The Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872

The Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872 is an act of the Parliament of India governing the legal marriage of Indian Christians. It was enacted on 18 July 1872 and applies throughout India, excluding the territories (Travancore-Cochin, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.) which, immediately before 1 November 1956, were comprised into the States of Kerala and Manipur, and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

According to the act, a marriage under the 1872 law is legitimate if at least one of the parties is Christian. An ordained minister of any church in India, a clergyman of the Church of Scotland, a marriage registrar or a special licensee may get an aspiring couple married under the act. The marriage performer issues a marriage certificate. This certificate is recorded with the Registrar of Marriage (who is appointed by the government). As is common in other Indian marriage acts, the minimum age is 21 for the groom and 18 for the bride.

The marriage ceremony must occur between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., unless the marriage performer secures special permission. The wedding may take place in a church; however, in cases where there is no church within five miles, an appropriate alternative location may be chosen.