Kochi: The Kerala High Court has held that a Muslim man cannot register his second marriage, without informing his first wife and providing her an opportunity to express her objections under the Kerala Registration of Marriages (Common) Rules, 2008.

Justice P V Kunhikrishnan observed that while Muslim personal law permits a man to have more than one wife, this provision cannot override constitutional principles of equality and fairness. The court also noted, “Marriage registration is a legal process. Basic fairness requires that the first wife, whose marriage is still valid, must be informed before registering the second marriage."

The judge further stated that if the first wife objects to the registration, alleging that the second marriage is invalid, the marriage registrar must halt t

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