Report No. 227

Effect of change of religion

Post-marriage conversion by either party to a civil marriages has no legal consequences - the convert remains subject to the provisions of the Special Marriage Act 1954 or the Foreign Marriage Act 1969, as the case may, and neither the converting spouse can contract another marriage nor the other spouse can seek divorce on the ground of change of religion.

If either party in such a situation marries again after changing religion, but without obtaining divorce or a decree of nullity, his or her conduct will still attract anti-bigamy provisions of the Indian Penal Code.