Report No. 90

2.6. Comprehensive Provision-Law Commission Report on Christian Marriage and Divorce.-

It was also pointed out in the Working Paper that, in principle, there may even be a case for still more extensive amendments in the matrimonial legislation applicable to Christians. If one were to embark on the task of revising the entire law relating to marriage and divorce amongst Christians in India, one could even think a comprehensive revision of Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 and the Indian Divorce Act, 1869-along with the introduction of necessary reforms, both in the substantive rules and in the procedure.

As already mentioned,1 the Law Commission of India had forwarded to the Government such a Report, being the Law Commission's 15th Report on the law relating to marriage and divorce amongst Christians in India (1960). This Report was followed by the 22nd Report of the Law Commission, in which the Commission expressed its views on certain further issues which the Government of India had referred to the Commission. These were issues relating to the Bill that had been prepared in the Government to implement the 15th Report. The Commission's Reports on the subject have not been implemented. This past history of law reform proposals on the subject was also set out in the Working Paper.

1. Para. 1.1, supra.