HINDU MARRIAGE ACT, 1955 (TAMIL NADU AMENDMENT)

Section 7 - Ceremonies for a Hindu marriage

(1)     A Hindu marriage may be solemnized in accordance with the customary rites and ceremonies of either party thereto.

 

(2)     Where such rites and ceremonies include the Saptapadi (that is, the taking of seven steps by the bridegroom and the bride jointly before the sacred fire), the marriage becomes complete and binding when the seventh step is taken.

[STATE AMENDMENTS

[Tamil Nadu

[1] [After Section 7

The following section shall be inserted, namely:-

"7-A. Special provision regarding suyamariyathai and seerthiruththa marriages

(1)     This section shall apply to any marriage between any two Hindus, whether called suyamariyathai marriage or seerthiruththa marriage or by any other name, solemnized in the presence of relatives, friends or other persons-

 

(a)      by each party to the marriage declaring in any language understood by the parties that each takes the other to be his wife or, as the case may be, her husband; or

 

(b)      by each party to the marriage garlanding the other or putting a ring upon any finger of the other; or

 

(c)      by the tying of the thali.

 

(2)     (a) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7, but subject to the other provisions of this Act, all marriages to which this section applies solemnized after the commencement of the Hindu Marriage ([2] [Tamil Nadu] Amendment) Act, 1967, shall be good and valid in law.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7 or in any text, rule or interpretation of Hindu law or any custom or usage as part of that law in force immediately before the commencement of the Hindu Marriage ([3] [Tamil Nadu] Amendment) Act, 1967, or in any other law in force immediately before such commencement or in any judgment, decree or order of any court, but subject to sub-section (3), all marriages to which this section applies solemnized at any time before such commencement shall be deemed to have been, with effect on and from the date of the solemnization of each such marriage, respectively, good and valid in law.

(3)     Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to-

 

(a)      render valid any marriage referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2), if before the commencement of the Hindu Marriage ([4] [Tamil Nadu] Amendment) Act. 1967,-

 

(i)       such marriage has been dissolved under any custom or law; or

 

(ii)      the women who was a party to such marriage has whether during or after the life of the other party thereto, lawfully married another; or

 

(b)      render invalid a marriage between any two Hindus solemnized at any time before such commencement, if such marriage was valid at that time; or

 

(c)      render valid a marriage between any two Hindus solemnized at any time before such commencement, if such marriage was invalid at that time on any ground other than that it was not solemnized in accordance with the customary rules and ceremonies of either party thereto:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any person liable to any punishment whatsoever by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by him before such commencement.

(4)     Any child of the parties to a marriage referred to in clause (6) of sub-section (2) born of such marriage shall be deemed to be their legitimate child:

Provided that in case failing under sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (3), such child was begotten before the date of the dissolution of the marriage or, as the case may be, before the date of the second of the marriages referred to in the said sub-clause (ii)."]