The Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that a marriage certificate issued by an Arya Samaj Mandir is not conclusive proof of a valid Hindu marriage if the essential ceremony of ‘Saptapadi’ (seven steps) is not established.

The Division Bench, comprising Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Hirdesh , set aside a Family Court judgment that had dismissed a suit seeking a declaration that the respondent was not the legally wedded wife of the plaintiff. The Court underscored that under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the performance of customary rites and ceremonies is mandatory for a marriage to be valid.

Case Background

The appeal was filed by the legal representative (son) of the original plaintiff. The original plaintiff, a 75-year-old retired Company Commander, had

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