New Delhi: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has emphasized that a Hindu marriage cannot be considered valid solely based on a marriage certificate or registration. The court stressed the significance of performing customary rites and ceremonies for a Hindu marriage to be recognized under the law.Rites and ceremonies deemed essential for valid Hindu marriageThe judgment came in a case involving a couple of commercial pilots who obtained a marriage certificate from a social organization and a registered marriage certificate from Ghaziabad. Despite the documentation, the court ruled that the absence of Hindu marriage rituals rendered the union invalid under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.Living apart despite marriage leads to disputeThe couple, even with the certificates, continued living separately. The situation escalated when the woman filed a dowry harassment complaint against the man and his family. Both parties eventually sought divorce, leading them to the Supreme Court for a jurisdictional transfer of the divorce petition.Court emphasizes importance of rituals for sanctity of marriageThe apex court, while deciding the transfer case, clarified the legal requirement of performing Hindu marriage ceremonies. The court highlighted the role of rituals in purifying individuals spiritually and establishing a sacred bond.Justice Nagarathna stated: The customary ceremonies, with all their variations, are believed to purify and transform the individuals involved. The Hindu Marriage Act recognizes the importance of rites and ceremonies. Therefore, adhering to these critical conditions for solemnizing a Hindu marriage is crucial. This is because the foundation of a sacred process cannot be a casual affair.Court discourages shortcut marriages for visasThe Supreme Court further discouraged the practice of couples registering marriages solely for visa applications or other purposes without conducting proper ceremonies. The court questioned the legal and social status of such unions if a formal marriage ceremony never takes place.Marriage is a sacred union, not a mere eventThe court advised young couples to contemplate the gravity of marriage before entering into it. Justice Nagarathna remarked, Marriage is not merely an occasion for celebration or a transaction involving dowry and gifts. Its a solemn foundation for a future family, the basic unit of Indian society.
