Family Law

Family law in India governs various aspects of family relationships, including marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and child custody. It is influenced by both personal religious laws and secular laws. For instance, Hindu personal law, governed by the Hindu Marriage Act, the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, and the Hindu Succession Act, applies to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Muslims are primarily governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, while Christians and Parsis follow their respective marriage and divorce laws, such as the Indian Christian Marriage Act and the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act. Additionally, the Special Marriage Act provides a legal framework for marriages between individuals of different religions or interfaith marriages. Over the years, family law in India has evolved to address gender equality and social justice, with significant reforms like the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005, which granted daughters equal inheritance rights, and the landmark judgments related to domestic violence and the rights of women in marriage and divorce. However, the diversity in personal laws continues to be a topic of debate, with calls for a more uniform and secular family law code to ensure equality for all citizens, regardless of religion.