Report No. 81

Hindu Widows Re-Marriage Act, 1856

Chapter 1

Introductory

1.1. Scope of the Report.-

This Report is concerned with the Hindu Widows Re-marriage Act, 18561 Consideration of the Act has been taken up by the Law Commission in pursuance of its terms of reference, which, inter alia, empower the Commission to make recommendations for the removal of anomalies and ambiguities in the law. The Act of 1856 is a Central Act of general importance and application; several of its provisions may create in the minds of many persons anomalies and ambiguities, as will be evident from the succeeding paragraphs of this Report. In the interests of simplification of the law2 and also on broader considerations of the removal of iniquities3, a review of the Act appears to be badly needed.

1. Briefly, "the Act of 1856."

2. Paras. 1.2 and 1.3, infra.

3. Para. 1.4, infra.