23rd December, 2003

 

An Act further to amend the Special Marriage Act, 1954 and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Fifty-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:--

 

CHAPTER 1 PRELIMINARY

 

Section 1 Short title

 

This Act may be called the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 2003.

 

CHAPTER 2 AMENDMENTS TO THE SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT, 1954

 

Section 2 Amendment of section 31

 

In the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (43 of 1954) (hereinafter referred to as the Special Marriage Act), in section 31, in sub-section (1), after clause (iii), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-- "(iiia) in case the wife is the petitioner, where she is residing on the date of presentation of the petition; or".

 

Section 3 Amendment of section 39

 

Section In section 39 of the Special Marriage Act, in sub¬section (4), for the words "period of thirty days", the words "period of ninety days" shall be substituted.

 

CHAPTER 3 AMENDMENTS TO THE HINDU MARRIAGE ACT, 1955

 

Section 4 Amendment of section 19

 

In the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (25 of 1955) (hereinafter referred to as the Hindu Marriage Act) , in section 19, in sub-section (1), after clause (iii), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:-- "(iiia) in case the wife is the petitioner, where she is residing on the date of presentation of the petition, or".

 

Section 5 Amendment of section 28 

 

Section In section 28 of the Hindu Marriage Act, in sub¬section (4), for the words "period of thirty days", the words "period of ninety days" shall be substituted.

 

CHAPTER 3 MISCELLANEOUS