The laws governing family and marital relationships have always been an important component of the law course syllabi. The past few years have witnessed signifi cant changes and liberalization in matrimonial laws. This revised edition of Family Law Lectures Family Law I skillfully guides the students through essentials and helps them gain insight into the prescribed course in Family Law I. The book has been divided into eleven chapters— each of them analysing statutory provisions as well as relevant case law. Statutes and case laws pertaining to the subject are contained in the appendices. A list of important model questions has also been given for the convenience of students.

Preface ....................................................................................................... v
Preface to the First Edition ........................................................................ vii
Introduction .............................................................................................. ix
Contents .................................................................................................. xiii
Table of Cases ........................................................................................ xxiii
CHAPTER 1
Marriage ........................................................................................ 3
1.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................. 3
1.2 RIGHT TO MARRY .......................................................................... 3
1.3 CONDITIONS FOR VALID MARRIAGE ................................................ 6
1.4 REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE ........................................................10
1.5 VOID, VOIDABLE, IRREGULAR MARRIAGE ........................................12
1.6 STATUTORY POSITION REGARDING VOID, VOIDABLE AND
IRREGULAR MARRIAGE ...............................................................12
1.7 NON-AGE MARRIAGE ....................................................................15
CHAPTER 2
Matrimonial Reliefs .................................................................... 23
(A) DIVORCE
2.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................23
(B) JUDICIAL SEPARATION
2.2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................33
(C) RESTITUTION OF CONJUGAL RIGHTS
2.3 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................35
CHAPTER 3
Grounds for Matrimonial Reliefs ................................................ 49
(A) ADULTERY
3.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................49
3.2 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ................................................................49
3.3 LEGISLATIVE CHANGES ..................................................................50
3.4 MEANING OF ADULTERY ..............................................................52
3.5 ADULTERER AS CO-RESPONDENT ...................................................54
3.6 EVIDENCE AND PROOF .................................................................55
3.7 CONSIDERATIONS IN GRANTING RELIEF .........................................57
(B) CRUELTY
3.8 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................59
3.9 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ................................................................60
3.10 SPECIES OF CRUELTY AND JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION ......................62
3.11 CONCLUSION ...............................................................................73
(C) DESERTION
3.12 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................74
3.13 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ................................................................76
3.14 INGREDIENTS OF DESERTION ........................................................78
3.15 CASE LAW ...................................................................................79
3.16 CONCLUSION ...............................................................................86
(D) CONVERSION
3.17 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................87
3.18 LEGAL EFFECT ON MARRIAGE .......................................................87
3.19 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ................................................................88
3.20 MISCELLANEOUS ..........................................................................92
(E) FRAUD
3.21 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................94
3.22 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ................................................................94
3.23 CASE LAW ...................................................................................96
3.24 BARS TO RELIEF ..........................................................................99
3.25 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 100
(F) BIGAMY
3.26 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 101
3.27 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ............................................................. 102
3.28 CASE LAW ................................................................................ 106
3.29 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 109
(G) IMPOTENCY
3.30 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 109
3.31 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ............................................................. 110
3.32 CASE LAW ................................................................................ 114
3.33 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 125
(H) MENTAL ILLNESS/ABNORMALITY
3.34 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 126
3.35 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ............................................................. 127
3.36 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 133
(I) PHYSICAL DISEASES: LEPROSY AND VENEREAL DISEASE
3.37 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 134
3.38 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ............................................................. 135
3.39 CASE LAW ................................................................................ 136
3.40 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 138
(J) NON-RESUMPTION OF COHABITATION AFTER DECREE
OF SEPARATION OR RESTITUTION
3.41 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 139
3.42 HINDU LAW ............................................................................. 140
3.43 PARSI LAW ................................................................................ 140
3.44 CHRISTIAN LAW ........................................................................ 141
3.45 DOCTRINE OF ‘FAULT’ VIS-À-VIS SECTION 13(1A)
OF HINDU MARRIAGE ACT 1955 .......................................... 141
3.46 LONG SEPARATION WITHOUT DECREE NO GROUND ................... 147
3.47 CONSENT DECREE OF RESTITUTION/SEPARATION ........................ 147
3.48 EX-PARTE DECREE .................................................................... 148
3.49 GROUND NOT AVAILABLE WHERE DECREE CHALLENGED
OR STAYED .......................................................................... 148
3.50 NO GROUND WHERE COHABITATION RESUMED .......................... 149
3.51 BAR OF DELAY ......................................................................... 150
3.52 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 150
(K) PRE-MARRIAGE PREGNANCY OF WIFE
3.53 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ............................................................. 152
3.54 CASE LAW ................................................................................ 153
(L) ADDITIONAL GROUNDS AVAILABLE TO WIFE
3.55 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ............................................................. 156
(M) DIVORCE BY MUTUAL CONSENT
3.56 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 159
3.57 LEGAL POSITION UNDER SPECIAL MARRIAGE ACT 1954
AND HINDU MARRIAGE ACT 1955........................................ 160
3.58 WHETHER MERE SILENCE TANTAMOUNTS TO WITHDRAWAL ........ 169
3.59 LEGAL POSITION UNDER PARSI, CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM LAW ..... 170
3.60 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 174
(N) IRRETRIEVABLE BREAKDOWN OF MARRIAGE
3.61 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 175
3.62 LEGAL POSITION ....................................................................... 176
3.63 LAW COMMISSION REPORT ........................................................ 178
3.64 JUDICIAL ATTITUDE ................................................................... 179
3.65 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 187
(O) OTHER GROUNDS FOR MATRIMONIAL RELIEF
3.66 MARRIAGE WITHIN PROHIBITED RELATIONS ................................ 187
3.67 RENOUNCING WORLD BY ENTERING ANY RELIGIOUS ORDER ....... 191
3.68 RESPONDENT NOT HEARD OF AS ALIVE FOR SEVEN YEARS ........ 192
3.69 SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT.................................................... 193
CHAPTER 4
Bars to Matrimonial Reliefs .......................................................197
4.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 197
4.2 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WRONG OR DISABILITY ......................... 197
4.3 COLLUSION .............................................................................. 200
4.4 CONDONATION ......................................................................... 202
4.5 DELAY ..................................................................................... 204
4.6 ONE YEAR BAR ......................................................................... 208
4.7 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 210
CHAPTER 5
Maintenance ..............................................................................213
5.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 213
5.2 PERSONAL LAWS ........................................................................ 213
5.3 GUIDELINES AND CONSIDERATIONS ............................................ 219
5.4 CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 1973 ...................................... 231
5.5 MAINTENANCE WHEN MARRIAGE VOID ...................................... 240
5.6 HUSBAND’S ESTATE CANNOT BE BURDENED BEYOND DEATH ...... 244
5.7 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 245
5.8 MAINTENANCE FOR MUSLIM WIVES ........................................... 245
5.9 MAINTENANCE FOR CHILDREN .................................................. 265
5.10 MAINTENANCE FOR HUSBANDS .................................................. 274
5.11 MAINTENANCE OF PARENTS ...................................................... 277
CHAPTER 6
Division of Matrimonial Property/Home and
Right of Residence ................................................................293
6.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 293
CHAPTER 7
Guardianship and Custody .........................................................301
7.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 301
7.2 STATUTORY PROVISIONS ............................................................. 302
7.3 MUSLIM LAW............................................................................ 305
7.4 WELFARE OF THE CHILD .......................................................... 306
CHAPTER 8
Adoption ....................................................................................315
8.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 315
(A) PERSONAL LAWS
8.2 HINDU LAW ............................................................................. 315
8.3 PROHIBITION OF CONSIDERATION .............................................. 332
8.4 PARSI LAW ................................................................................ 333
8.5 MUSLIM LAW............................................................................ 333
8.6 CHRISTIAN LAW ........................................................................ 333
8.7 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 334
(B) INTER COUNTRY ADOPTION
CHAPTER 9
Selected Topics on Muslim Law .................................................343
(A) NIKAH MARRIAGE
9.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 343
9.2 CONDITIONS FOR VALID MARRIAGE ........................................... 343
9.3 EFFECTS OF LEGAL MARRIAGE ................................................... 346
9.4 MUTA MARRIAGE ....................................................................... 346
(B) RESTITUTION OF CONJUGAL RIGHTS
(C) TALAQ (DIVORCE)
9.5 TALAQ ...................................................................................... 351
9.6 TALAQ-E-TAFWID (DELEGATED DIVORCE) .................................... 354
9.7 KHULA AND MUBARA’AT ............................................................. 355
9.8 LI’AN (FALSE CHARGE OF ADULTERY) ......................................... 357
9.9 JUDICIAL DIVORCE .................................................................... 362
(D) IDDAT
9.10 MEANING ................................................................................. 366
9.11 DURATION ................................................................................ 366
9.12 COMMENCEMENT OF IDDAT ....................................................... 367
9.13 RIGHTS AND DUTIES DURING IDDAT .......................................... 367
(E) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PATERNITY
(F) MAHR (DOWER)
9.14 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 370
9.15 KINDS OF DOWER .................................................................... 371
9.16 AMOUNT OF MAHR .................................................................. 374
9.17 INCREASE OF DOWER................................................................ 374
9.18 REMISSION OF DOWER ............................................................. 374
9.19 ENFORCEMENT OF DOWER ....................................................... 374
CHAPTER 10
Miscellaneous .............................................................................379
(A) CONVERSIONS AND BIGAMOUS MARRIAGES
(B) LEGITIMATION OF CHILDREN OF VOID
AND VOIDABLE MARRIAGE
10.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 383
10.2 HINDU LAW ............................................................................. 383
10.3 PARSI LAW ................................................................................ 387
10.4 CHRISTIAN LAW ........................................................................ 387
10.5 MUSLIM LAW............................................................................ 388
(C) REPUDIATION OF MARRIAGE OR OPTION OF PUBERTY
10.6 HINDU LAW ............................................................................. 389
10.7 MUSLIM LAW............................................................................ 389
(D) KINDS OF GUARDIANS
10.8 NATURAL GUARDIAN ................................................................. 391
10.9 DE-FACTO GUARDIAN................................................................ 394
10.10 TESTAMENTARY GUARDIAN ......................................................... 396
(E) FACTUM VALET
10.11 MUSLIM LAW............................................................................ 399
(F) CUSTOMARY LAW
(G) FOREIGN MARRIAGE ACT 1969
(H) RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DIVORCE DECREES
CHAPTER 11
Matrimonial Dispute Settlement: Alternative Methods,
Procedures and Forums ........................................................415
11.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 415
11.2 SPECIAL METHODS .................................................................... 416
11.3 SPECIAL PROCEDURE .................................................................. 421
11.4 FORUMS ................................................................................... 423
11.5 CONCLUSION ............................................................................ 426

APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
Digest of Selected Cases .............................................................427
APPENDIX II
Model Questions ........................................................................473
APPENDIX III
List of Statutes ............................................................................479
APPENDIX IV
The Hindu Marriage Act 1955 ...................................................481
APPENDIX V
The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act 1956 ....................497
APPENDIX VI
The Hindu Widows’ Re-marriage Act 1856 ................................507
APPENDIX VII
The Hindu Widows’ Re-marriage (Repeal) Act 1983 ..................511
APPENDIX VIII
The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act 1956 ......................513
APPENDIX IX
The Special Marriage Act 1954 ..................................................519
APPENDIX X
The Foreign Marriage Act 1969 .................................................545
APPENDIX XI
The Indian Christian Marriage Act 1872 ...................................555
APPENDIX XII
The Indian Divorce Act 1869 .....................................................583
APPENDIX XIII
The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act 1936 .................................609
APPENDIX XIV
The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939 ........................627
APPENDIX XV
The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application
Act 1937 ...............................................................................631
APPENDIX XVI
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce)
Act 1986 ...............................................................................635
APPENDIX XVII
The Guardians and Wards Act 1890 ...........................................639
APPENDIX XVIII
The Family Courts Act 1984 ......................................................657
APPENDIX XIX
The Converts’ Marriage Dissolution Act 1861 ...........................665
APPENDIX XX
Extracts From Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 ......................675
APPENDIX XXI
Extracts From Indian Penal Code 1860 ......................................683
APPENDIX XXII
Extracts From Code of Civil Procedure 1908 .............................687
Index ................................................................................................. 691