15/01/2023
The Supreme Court has observed that any marriage between inter-faith couples under the Hindu Marriage Act is void and only Hindus can marry under the same law.
A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna observation came on Friday while hearing a plea challenging an August 2017 order of the Telangana High Court.
The court has posted the matter for further hearing in February.
The Telangana High Court had refused to quash proceedings against the petitioner under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with whoever, having a husband or wife living, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
A complaint has been filed in Hyderabad against the petitioner under section 494 of IPC,1860 in 2013 alleging that the petitioner defacto was married to the complainant in February 2008 according to Hindu Rites thereby their wedding is under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955.
