Section 16 Of The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 was created with the intention of protecting the rights to marriage for Hindu brides and grooms who are united by the sacred bond of matrimony in any ceremony. The type of ceremony is not specified by law because there are numerous ways for a man and a woman to perform this religious act. This legislation was proposed as a result of numerous instances where both men and women were terrified or humiliated as a result of fraud cases involving marriage. Any person who is a Hindu, Jain, Sikh, or Buddhist and who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi, or Jew or who is subject to another law is bound by this act. Any Hindu by religion or birth is required to abide by this law.

There are certain relations in the family or in the outer relative family which specifically cannot come into a marital reunion. The law put a ban on certain relationships and certain marriage types. Hinduism strictly forbids having a marital relationship with more than one person and has incorporated monogamy. According to Sections 5 and 17 of the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, bigamy and polygamy are strictly punishable under Indian law if proven.