The Law Commission of India has recently issued a report on Laws of Civil Marriages in India –A Proposal to Resolve Certain Conflicts. In India, citizens currently have a choice of marriage under their religion-specific marriage laws, or a civil marriage under the Special Marriage Act of 1954. The report suggests that the law be changed to turn the 1954 Act into a general Marriage Act that would also apply to all inter-religious marriages except those within the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain communities. The report also suggests changes in the law so that individuals marrying under the Marriage Act can still take advantage of inheritance rules related to their religion. IndLaw News summarizes the report.
This month the Law Commission also issued another report, Laws on Registration of Marriage and Divorce – A Proposal for Consolidation and Reform, that would require registration of all marriages and divorces regardless of the religion of the parties. IndLaw News summarizes the report.
