Inter-Religion Marriage Registration Procedure in India Explained

In a diverse nation like India, to protect the interests of inter-religious couples who intend to get married without converting to another religion, the Indian government has passed the Special Marriage Act of 1954. This act allows inter-religious couples to get married without hassles and promotes pluralism and diversity in Indian society. 

Let us dive deeper into the details regarding the marriage registration process for inter-religion couples and different aspects of the Special Marriage Act of 1954.

Inter-religion marriage refers to a union between individuals belonging to different religious backgrounds. It allows people to choose their life partners without being confined by religious boundaries.

In India, the Special Marriage Act of 1954 provides a legal framework for such marriages, ensuring they are recognised and protected under the law, fostering inclusivity and acceptance in a diverse society.

The following are the eligibility criteria that need to be met in order to get married under the Special Marriage Act of 1954: 

• Both the individuals getting married must be Indian citizens residing in any part of the country. 
• It is necessary for the couple to meet the basic age limit criteria, which is that the bride and groom must be at least 18 years old and 21 years old, respectively. 
• Willing consent of both the involved parties is a must, as marriage by force is unlawful and may be declared void. 
• Apart from the exceptions made under the law, the involved individuals must not be related to each other by any degree of forbidden relationship. 
• The bride and groom must be of sound mind to give their willing consent for the marriage and hence prove that it is not coerced.   

Some states and union territories allow digital registration for inter-religion marriages, for which the following procedure may be followed: 

Step 1: To begin the process, log in to the official website of your respective state or union territory.  For example, if you are applying from West Bengal, you need to visit the West Bengal Register General of Marriages portal.

Note: The state or union territory of registration for marriage must be the one where marriage is to be solemnised or one of the parties involved has resided for more than a period of 6 months.  

Step 2: Navigate through the website to find the marriage registration tab and fill out the form available for inter-religion marriage under the Special Marriage Act.

Step 3: After your application is filled and sent through, you will receive a scheduled appointment at the local marriage registrar’s office within the jurisdiction. During the visit your documents will be verified and witnesses will be called upon. 

Step 4: After successfully verifying your documents and cross-checking the claims, the local marriage registrar will issue you a legally valid inter-religion marriage certificate. 

Broadly considering the Special Marriage Act of 1954, the following procedure can be followed to obtain marriage registration offline:

Step 1: Visit the local marriage registrar at least 30 days before the scheduled marriage ceremony.

Step 2: Obtain and fill out the application form, which consists of the parties' personal details, and submit it with other necessary documents.

Step 3: A 30-day notice is offered to the inter-religion couple by the registrar, also called the objection period, during which either may make any objections to the parties' marriage and the registrar ensures that the union is consensual and lawful. 

Step 4: 30 days after the passing of notice to the marriage commissioner's office, the inter-religion marriage is solemnised, ensuring that no objections were raised during the objection period.

Step 5: The bride and the groom, along with three witnesses, including relatives or friends, must appear before the registrar with the necessary documents to acknowledge their marriage registration entry in the notice book.

For a smooth and hassle-free solemnisation of inter-religion marriage, neither party must raise objections during the objection period, failure of which may invite investigation by the registrar. Also, both individuals must satisfy all the eligibility criteria mentioned under the Special Marriage Act of 1954 to validate their marriage legally.   

Inter-religion marriages in India can acquire legal status under the ambit of laws mentioned under the Special Marriage Act 1954. The marriage registration process for inter-religion couples may take offline at the local marriage registrar's office or may be completed online.

However, in the case of online registration, the parties may still have to visit the registrar's office to verify documents physically.

Throughout the process of obtaining a marriage registration for inter-religion marriage, it is necessary that you have authentic and authorised legal documents to attach during the procedure. If unable to present the proper documents, the registrar may cancel the application for marriage registration.

The list of documents may vary from one state to the other, and therefore, apart from the above list of standard documents, you must inquire about the other necessary documents that may be required at the time of your registration procedure.

Inter-religious marriages are common in India, and therefore, the Special Marriage Act of 1954 plays a significant role in promoting inclusion within society by breaking the barriers of communal norms. To obtain marriage registration as an inter-religious couple, it is important to produce the necessary legal documentation and meet the eligibility criteria set by the law.