Tamil Nadu Christian Marriages Validation Act, 1952

No: 12 Dated: Dec, 17 1952

The Tamil Nadu Christian Marriages Validation Act, 1952

Tamil Nadu Act 12 of 1952

    An Act to validate certain marriages solemnized in the districts of Nellore and Chingleput.

    Whereas the State Government granted licences under section 9 of the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 (Central Act XV of 1872) to Sri Eragudla Devadoss of the American Baptist Telugu Mission in the district of Nellore on the 27th day of April 1936, and to the Rev. James Ponnurangam of the Church of Messiah in the district of Chingleput on the 18th day of November 1941;

    And Whereas the State Government revoked the licence of the said Sri Eragudla Devadoss with effect on and from the 7th day of September 1950 and the licence of the said Rev. James Ponnurangam with effect on and from the 12th day of November 1946;

    And Whereas in ignorance of the revocation of the licences aforesaid, the said Sri Eragudla Devadoss continued to solemnize marriages and to grant certificates of marriage up to the 19th day of October 1951, on which date a fresh licence was granted to him under the said section 9; and the said Rev. James Ponnurangam solemnized a marriage between Sri R. Devadoss and Srimathi M. Grace Pushpa on the 19th day of August 1949 and granted a certificate of marriage to them;

    And Whereas there is no reason to doubt that the parties to the marriages referred to in the foregoing paragraph believed in good faith that their marriages had been duly solemnized, and the certificates thereof duly granted, by persons legally entitled so to do;

    And Whereas it is necessary that the marriages aforesaid and all certificates granted, and all other acts and things done, in respect of, or in relation to, such marriages, should be validated; It is hereby enacted as follows:

1. Short title. - This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Christian Marriages Validation Act, 1952.

2. Validation of certain marriages solemnized by Sri Eragudla Devadoss and the Rev. James Ponnurangam, after the revocation of their licences. - (1) The marriages solemnized by the said Sri Eragudla Devadoss on and from the 7th day of September 1950 and up to the 19th day of October 1951, and the certificates granted, the register-books and extracts there from deposited, and the other acts and things done, in respect of, or in relation to, those marriages shall not be deemed to be invalid by reason only of the fact that the licence granted to the said Sri Eragudla Devadoss on the 27th day of April 1936 had been revoked.

(2) The marriage of Sri R. Devadoss and Srimathi M. Grace Pushpa solemnized by the said Rev. James Ponnurangam on the 19th day of August 1949, and the certificate granted, the register book and extracts therefrom deposited and the other acts and things done, in respect of, or in relation to, that marriage, shall not be deemed to be invalid by reason only of the fact that the licence granted to the said Rev. James Ponnurangam, on the 18th day of November 1941 had been revoked.

(3) Certificates of the marriages validated by sub-sections (1) and (2) and the register books and extracts therefrom referred to in those sub-sections, shall be received as evidence of the marriages.