On what conditions marriages of Indian Christians may be certified.-Every marriage between 1*[Indian] Christians applying for a certificate, shall, without the preliminary notice required under Part III, be certified under this Part, if the following conditions be fulfilled, and not otherwise :-
- the age of the man intending to be married 3*[shall not be under 4*[twenty-one years], and the age of the woman intending to be married 5[shall not be under 4*[eighteen years]]
- neither of the persons intending to be married shall have a wife or husband still living;
- in the presence of a person licensed under section 9, and of at least two credible witnesses other than such person, each of the parties shall say to the other- "I call upon these persons here present to witness that. 1, A. B., in the presence of Almighty God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, do take thee, C. D., to be my lawful wedded wife [or husband]" or words to the like effect:
1 Subs. by the A. O. 1950, for "Native".
3 Subs. by Act 48 of 1952. s. 3 and Sch. II, for "shall exceed sixteen years".
4 Subs. by Act 2 of 1978. a. 6 and Sch., for "eighteen years" and "fifteen years " respectively (w.e.f. 1-10-1978)