The Gujarat High Court has ruled that the performance of customary rites and ceremonies, particularly 'saptapadi', is essential for the validation of a Hindu marriage, stating that registration alone is insufficient. The court emphasised that marriage is a sacrament and not merely a social occasion, highlighting the spiritual and legal significance of traditional rituals.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court will decide whether Jain individuals can seek relief under the Hindu Marriage Act, including divorce by mutual consent. This decision stems from a family court's refusal to accept a divorce petition from a Jain software engineer, citing the community's minority status. The high court appointed an amicus curiae to assist in the case, and the next hearing is scheduled for March 18.
The Allahabad high court has observed that marriage between two Hindus is sacrosanct and it cannot be dissolved within one year of marriage unless there is exceptional hardship or exceptional depravity as provided under the Hindu Marriage Act.
The Calcutta High Court has upheld a magistrate court's decision to grant interim maintenance to a Hindu woman who married a man according to Muslim rites and customs, citing Supreme Court precedents on the husband's liability for maintenance until the marriage is declared void.
In its order on March 22, the court said the Hindu Marriage Act merely provides for saptpadi (seven steps or saat pheras) as an essential ceremony of a marriage.
The sacrament based Hindu marriage may be dissolved (in law), in limited circumstances and too only on the strength of evidence led by the parties, it said.
'A marriage is not an event for 'song and dance' and 'wining and dining' or an occasion to demand and exchange dowry and gifts by undue pressure leading to possible initiation of criminal proceedings thereafter'
"If the marriage is not a valid marriage, according to the law applicable to the parties, it is not a marriage in the eyes of law. The 'Saptapadi' ceremony under the Hindu Law is one of the essential ingredients to constitute a valid marriage but the said evidence is lacking in the present case," the court said in a recent order.
Maharashtra ministers have ignited a fresh controversy by linking Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's third marriage to the contentious concept of "love jihad".
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet has approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill, which will be introduced in the state assembly's monsoon session. The proposed legislation, excluding the tribal community, addresses marriage, live-in relationships, adoption, and inheritance, aiming for women's empowerment and social harmony. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav highlighted broad support and criticised the Congress for its stance.
Pakistan's Hindus were set to get an exclusive personal law to regulate marriages after the National Assembly unanimously adopted the Hindu Marriage Bill, 2017, on Thursday.
A man in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has been booked for allegedly cheating a 43-year-old teacher of cash and gold by promising her marriage and a job in Dubai, and also attempting to coerce her into converting to Islam. The accused, Hussein Abu Soydan, reportedly established a relationship with the victim, took significant sums of money and jewellery, and then avoided contact after a purported marriage and conversion.
The plea argued that any changes such as inclusion of same sex marriage in the Customary Law are much easier, convenient and practical in marriages which are a type of contract between the partners as they are very remotely based on religion and more generic in nature.
After decades of delay and inaction, the Hindu minority community in Pakistan will soon have a marriage law as a parliamentary panel has unanimously approved the Hindu Marriage Bill.
The Hindu Marriage Bill 2017, which is the first elaborate Hindu community's personal law, was adopted by the Senate on Friday.
Aamir Khan has addressed recent 'love jihad' allegations, clarifying his family's inclusive stance on interfaith marriages.
The Rajasthan High Court overturned a family court's decision, granting a woman a divorce and strongly criticising the 'Aata-Sata' marriage custom, highlighting the need to assess matrimonial disputes based on the 'preponderance of probabilities' rather than criminal law standards.
The Supreme Court of India has observed that the practice of excommunicating Parsi women for entering into interfaith marriages is prima facie discriminatory, emphasising that the right of conscience is a birthright.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has confirmed that a young woman from Madhya Pradesh, known for her viral videos, is a minor, leading to allegations of 'love Jihad' regarding her interfaith marriage.
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has reportedly received a threat from individuals claiming affiliation with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, accusing him of promoting 'love jihad' following his recent third marriage. Mumbai Police are currently verifying the authenticity of a social media post and a voice note related to the alleged threat.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea on May 29 seeking a direction to the Nagpur Parsi Panchayat to treat a Parsi woman equally with her male counterparts, even after she marries a person of another faith, challenging a rule that allegedly strips Parsi women of their religious identity upon inter-faith marriage.
Police in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, have made another arrest in an alleged unlawful religious conversion case, recovering a 'nikahnama' from the accused. The case involves Ayush Malik, who his father claims was forcibly converted, but Ayush himself states his conversion to Islam was voluntary. Legal action has been initiated against nine people, and Hindu organisations are demanding strict measures.
Ayush Malik, a resident of Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, who had converted to Islam earlier this year, has now returned to Hinduism. He stated that his decision was influenced by the distress his initial conversion caused his parents. This reconversion follows a police investigation into his initial conversion under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, where four people have been arrested.
Gurugram police have booked a coaching centre operator for allegedly abducting a 26-year-old woman for marriage. The victim's family has demanded the immediate arrest of the accused, alleging that the woman is being prevented from contacting them.
In Rediff's new series on modern marriages, young couples from across India discuss how they deal with differences of opinion, lifestyle preferences and personal choices. Here, Megha* tells Rishika Shah/Rediff how she coped with the unexpected challenges that followed her impulsive marriage to her best friend.
Film director Sanoj Mishra has alleged that the marriage of actress Monalisa Bhonsle to a Muslim man is a case of 'love jihad' and plans to take the matter to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister.
UN experts have voiced serious concerns regarding the ongoing abduction and forced religious conversion through marriage of women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan, highlighting that impunity is fuelling the practice.
A religious conversion case in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, has led to a police investigation and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). A man, Ayush Malik alias Mohammad Ali, claims he voluntarily converted to Islam, while his father alleges illegal conversion and forgery. Authorities have heightened security in the area as the probe continues and arrests have been made.
US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday generated significant online traction after making a light-hearted reference to two "very, very important" Indian and Pakistani people in his life - his wife Usha Vance and Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir, on the sidelines of the US-Iran diplomatic deliberations in Switzerland.
The father of Monalisa Bhonsle, who gained fame during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, has requested the intervention of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to ensure her safe return after she married a Muslim man in Kerala, alleging 'love jihad'.
A man in Moradabad was arrested for allegedly concealing his religious identity, sexually exploiting a woman for four years, and then pressuring her to convert for marriage. The woman claims he defrauded her of Rs 12 lakh and that his family also pressured her to convert, leading to an appeal to the Chief Minister.
Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi has strongly criticised the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating it is 'focussed more on exclusion' and has 'played havoc with democracy' by disturbing free and fair elections.
Lucknow police are searching for a 21-year-old woman whose father filed an FIR alleging she was forcibly taken away by an acquaintance. While the father initially mentioned conversion, police clarified that the complaint does not include religious conversion allegations, dismissing social media rumours.
Film director Sanoj Mishra met the family of Monalisa Bhonsle, the viral Kumbh girl who recently married a Muslim man, alleging 'love jihad' and promising to take the matter to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister.
Nashik police is probing multiple FIRs alleging sexual harassment and forced religious conversion at a TCS unit, with eight arrests so far.
Hindu activists protested a wedding reception for an interfaith couple in Shahjahanpur, leading to its cancellation. The couple had married in a registry marriage in Delhi.
The Supreme Court of India dissolved a marriage, instructing the couple to prioritize their child's well-being and set aside personal differences.
The Rajasthan High Court has overturned a family court's decision and granted a divorce to a woman, criticising the 'Aata-Sata' marriage custom and stating that cruelty in matrimonial disputes does not require proof 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasized the need for Hindu unity, vigilance, and social harmony, advocating for family values and addressing concerns about infiltration and social divisions.
The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Law Commission to consider a plea as a representation of a Buddhist group that certain sets of personal Hindu laws, which are applicable to Buddhists also, are against their fundamental rights, including freedom to practice religion.
