THE PARSI MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE ACT, 1936

1. The legal requirements of a valid Parsi marriage are that the parties should not be related to each other within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity set forth in schedule I of the Act and the marriage shall be solemnized by “ASHIRVAD” of the priest and that the parties had completed the age of twenty one years. It advocates monogamy and punishes bigamy. All Parsi marriages have to be certified by the priest and signed by the contracting parties and the witnesses. The Certificate shall be sent to the Registrar of the place at which such marriage is solemnized.
   
   
2. When a court passes a decree for divorce or nullity, the court shall send a copy of the decree for registration to the Registrar of Marriages. The State Government shall constitute Special Parsi Matrimonial Courts and appoint delegates to aid in the adjudication of cases and such delegates shall be deemed to the public servants. Suits for nullity, and suits for dissolution shall be filed in the Matrimonial Court as per Sections 30, 31 and 32 of the Act. Suits for judicial separation, and restitution of conjugal rights may be brought before the court on the grounds set forth under sections 35 and 36. But no suit can be field to enforce marriage on contract arising out of marriage when the husband is under 16 years or wife under 14 years of age. The Act provides for grant of alimony pendent elite as well as permanent alimony to the wife or her trustee. An appeal shall lie from the decision of the matrimonial court within 3 months time from the date of the order appealed. The Act empowers the court to pass order regarding custody of children, their maintenance and education as well as orders relating to the settlement of half of wife’s property for the benefit of children.

MARRIAGE LAWS RELATING TO PARSI