The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936

Current legal status not independently verified. Source: Pakistan Code (single official PDF, 2026-08-21). The text below is the official Pakistan Code text as retrieved; whether it is still in force, or has since been amended or repealed, has not been independently checked.

WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the law relating to marriage and divorce among Parsis; It is hereby enacted as follows:— I.— PRELIMINARY

• Section 1: Short title, extent and commencement
• Section 2: Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
• Section 3: Requisites to validity of Parsi marriages. No marriage shall be valid if
• Section 4: Remarriage when unlawful
• Section 5: Punishment of bigamy. Every Parsi who during the lifetime of his or her wife or husband,
• Section 6: Certificate and registry of marriage. Every marriage contracted under this Act shall,
• Section 7: Appointment of Registrar. For the purposes of this Act a Registrar shall be appointed
• Section 8: Marriage registers to be open for public inspection. The register of marriages
• Section 9: Copy of certificate to be sent to Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• Section 10: Registration of divorces. When a Court passes a decree for divorce, nullity or
• Section 11: Penalty for solemnizing marriage contrary to section 4. Any priest knowingly and
• Section 12: Penalty for Priest’s neglect of requirements of section 6. Any priest neglecting to
• Section 13: Penalty for omitting to subscribe and attest certificate. Every other person required by
• Section 14: Penalty for making, etc., false certificate. Every person making or signing or attesting
• Section 15: Penalty for failing to register certificate. Any Registrar failing to enter the said
• Section 16: Penalty for secreting, destroying or altering register. Any person secreting, destroying,
• Section 17: Formal irregularity not to invalidate marriage. No marriage contracted under this Act
• Section 18: Constitution of Special Courts under the Act. For the purpose of hearing suits under
• Section 19: [Parsi Chief Matrimonial Courts.] Omitted by A. O., 1949
• Section 20: Parsi District Matrimonial Courts. Every Court so constituted 4[* * *] shall be entitled
• Section 21: Power to alter territorial jurisdiction of District Courts. The 3[Provincial
• Section 22: [Certain districts to be within jurisdiction of the Chief Matrimonial Court.] Omitted by A
• Section 23: Court seals. A seal shall be made for every Court constituted under this Act, and all
• Section 24: Appointment of delegates
• Section 25: Power to appoint new delegates. The appointment of a delegate shall be for ten years;
• Section 26: Delegates to be deemed public servants. All delegates appointed under this Act shall be
• Section 27: Selection of delegates under section 20 to be from those appointed under section 24
• Section 28: Practitioners in Matrimonial Courts. All legal practitioners entitled to practice in a
• Section 29: Court in which suits to be brought
• Section 30: Suits for nullity. In any case in which consummation of the marriage is from natural
• Section 31: Suits for dissolution. If a husband or wife shall have been continually absent from his or
• Section 32: Grounds for divorce. Any married person may sue for divorce on any one or more of the
• Section 33: Joining of co-defendant. In every such suit for divorce on the ground of adultery, the
• Section 34: Suits for judicial separation. Any married person may sue for judicial separation on any
• Section 35: Decrees in certain suits. In any suit under section 30, 31, 32 or 34, whether defended or
• Section 36: Suit for restitution of conjugal rights. Where a husband shall have deserted or without
• Section 37: Counter-claim by defendant for any relief. In any suit under this Act, the defendant
• Section 38: No suit to be brought to enforce marriage or contract arising out of marriage when
• Section 39: Alimony pendente lite. In any suit under this Act if the wife shall not have an
• Section 40: Permanent alimony
• Section 41: Payment of alimony to wife or to her trustee. In all cases in which the Court shall make
• Section 42: Disposal of joint property. In any suit under this Act the Court may make such
• Section 43: Suits may be heard with closed doors. In every suit preferred under this Act, the case
• Section 44: Validity of trial. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 19 or section 20, where
• Section 45: Provisions of Civil Procedure Code to apply to suits under the Act. The provisions of
• Section 46: Determination of questions of law and procedure and of fact. In suits under this Act
• Section 47: Appeal to High Court. An appeal shall lie to the High Court from__
• Section 48: Liberty to parties to marry again. When the time hereby limited for appealing against
• Section 49: Custody of children. In any suit under this Act, the Court may from time to time pass
• Section 50: Settlement of wife’s property for benefit of children. In any case in which the Court
• Section 51: Superintendence of High Court. The High Court shall have superintendence over, and
• Section 52: Applicability of provisions of the Act
• Section 53: 3[Repealed.]
• SCHEDULE I: SCHEDULE I
• SCHEDULE II: SCHEDULE II