The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

What this law covers

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, Act No. 25 of 1955, is a central law made by Parliament to amend and codify the law relating to marriage among Hindus. The text provided shows the Act as on the 15th April, 2026, and lists later amending Acts.

The Act extends to the whole of India, and also applies to Hindus domiciled in the territories to which it extends who are outside those territories.

Who it applies to

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 applies to:

• any person who is a Hindu by religion in any of its forms or developments, including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samaj
• any person who is a Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh by religion
• any other person domiciled in the territories to which the Act extends who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by religion, unless the contrary is proved as stated in the Act
• children and converts described in the Explanation to section 2

The Act does not apply to members of any Scheduled Tribe within the meaning stated in the Constitution, unless the Central Government otherwise directs by notification in the Official Gazette.

Main marriage rules in the text provided

A Hindu marriage may be solemnized between any two Hindus if these conditions are fulfilled:

• neither party has a spouse living at the time of the marriage
• neither party has the mental incapacity or mental disorder described in the Act
• the bridegroom has completed twenty-one years and the bride has completed eighteen years at the time of the marriage
• the parties are not within prohibited relationship, unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits it
• the parties are not sapindas of each other, unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits it

The Act also defines key terms such as custom, usage, sapinda relationship, and degrees of prohibited relationship.

Ceremonies and registration

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 says a Hindu marriage may be solemnized according to the customary rites and ceremonies of either party. If those rites include Saptapadi, the marriage becomes complete and binding when the seventh step is taken.

For registration:

• the State Government may make rules for entering marriage particulars in a Hindu Marriage Register
• the State Government may make registration compulsory in the State or any part of it
• the register is open for inspection and can be used as evidence
• omission to register does not affect the validity of the marriage

Court remedies shown in the text provided

The text provided includes provisions for:

• restitution of conjugal rights, where one spouse has withdrawn from the society of the other without reasonable excuse
• judicial separation, on grounds on which a divorce petition could be presented

The arrangement of sections also shows that the Act deals with nullity of marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody of children, disposal of property, appeals, and enforcement.