Hindu wedding invalid without 'Saptapadi' ceremony, rules Allahabad High Court
PTC Web Desk: In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has declared that a Hindu marriage is not considered valid without the performance of the 'Saptapadi' ceremony and other essential rituals. The court's decision came in response to a case where a man accused his estranged wife of entering into a second marriage without obtaining a divorce.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh, presiding over the case, emphasised the importance of proper marriage ceremonies and due formalities, stating that without these, a marriage cannot be deemed valid. He explained, "If the marriage is not a valid marriage, according to the law applicable to the parties, it is not a marriage in the eyes of the law. The 'Saptapadi' ceremony under Hindu Law is one of the essential ingredients to constitute a valid marriage, but the said evidence is lacking in the present case."
The court, in its recent order, quashed the summoning order dated April 21, 2022, and all further proceedings related to the complaint case against the wife. The judge noted that there was no mention of 'Saptapadi' in the complaint or in the statements before the court, making the allegation of a second marriage without corroborative evidence insufficient.
The case revolved around Smriti Singh, who had married Satyam Singh in 2017 but later faced marital discord and filed an FIR alleging dowry harassment against her in-laws. Subsequently, Satyam accused Smriti of bigamy, but this allegation was found to be false after investigation by the police. As a result, Smriti filed a petition in the high court challenging the summoning order and the entire proceedings of the complaint case, arguing that it was a counter-case in response to her FIR against Satyam's family members.
- With inputs from agencies
