Court Marriage / Registered Marriage

Often people confuse between ‘Court Marriage’ and ‘Registration of Marriage’. These are Not same but altogether different legal processes.

In India, more that 95% people get married by the society, priests as per their religious customs. This is as per an applicable legal law as per our constitution specific to that religion ( Hindu maariage act, Moslem Marriage act etc ). Here, the parents / preist actually get the couple married. Later government merely recognizes this marriage and provide a certificate. This is called registration of marriage. This is a right ( and duty ) of every citizen to get his marriage registered. Most marriages happen this way.

Above marriage can take place only when bride and groom are followers of the same religion. Marriage under these religion-specific acts can not be solemnized between people of different faiths. A Hindu can not marry a moslem in a temple or vice versa in a mosque.

If bride and groom are from different faith, they can get married under the ‘Special marriage act’ of Indian constitution. This act allows marriage without any reference to their religious beleifs and practices. This is colloquially termed as ‘Court Marriage’.

In court marriage, the government authority ( judge ) declares the couple married. Society , priest are not involved at all. While in regular religious marriage, government is only registering the marriage that has been solemnized by society / priest. Legally there is no difference between the two.