What should be the procedure for Christian Marriage?

The Act (Sections 28, 29, 30 and 31) lays down that the Clergymen of the Churches of England, Rome, Scotland have to maintain the ‘Marriage Register’ and forward the ‘Returns’ every four months to the Registrar of the local Archdeaconry.

The said Archdeaconry then has to send one copy of the ‘Returns’ to the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages. It is also provided (Section 32) that the ‘Marriage Registrar’ should be maintained in duplicate. Indeed, the entries in the (i) Marriage Register and (ii) Marriage Certificate (Section 33) have to be signed/attested by the person solemnizing the marriage.

The marriage certificate has to be sent (Section 34) to the Marriage Registrar/Senior Marriage Registrar of the District who has to copy out the entries in the Certificate in his Register book. The Marriage Registrar/Senior Marriage Registrar has to put his counter signature on the Marriage Certificate and send it to the Registrar General of BD&M. The copies made (Section 35) must be in seriatim, the Book must show the Marriage Certificate number and the Marriage Register Book serial number The Marriage Certificate with all such relevant entries and signatures of the Marriage Registrar shall be sent (Section 37) to the Registrar General of BD&M.

Section 75 in express terms prohibits the destruction of the registers/records in respect of marriages solemnized and if any one does it, he invites criminal prosecution and punishment of imprisonment of seven years and also fine. However, such prosecution can be launched only within the period of two years (Section 76). Section 77 lies down that mere irregularity will not render the marriage void.

Section 78 prescribes the procedure for making correction in case of inadvertent error in the records. Section 79 provides for the Searches and the copies of the entries of the marriage. The State Government is vested with the powers to prescribe the fees and make rules (Section 82/83). Indeed, the entries in the records shall be received in evidence (Section 80).