DR ANUPAM KUMAR MISHRA

 Introduction In India, a marriage between two individuals or persons belonging to different religions, nationality, caste or creed, are governed by the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Court Marriages enables the parties to make an application to the Marriage registrar for the solemnization, registration and grant of marriage certificate, thereby doing away with the customs and rituals of a traditional marriage. Valid conditions for Court Marriage  Some of the essentials to constitute a valid court marriage under the act: Both parties should not have a subsisting marriage at the time of Court Marriage.The bridegroom should have completed twenty-one (21) years of age and bride should have completed eighteen (18) years of age.The parties to the marriage must be mentally fit, not suffering from any persistent bouts of insanity.The consent to the marriage should free and valid and not obtained under any coercion or undue influence.The parties should not come within the degree of prohibited rel