Insertion of new section 7-A in Central Act 25 of 1955.

2. After section 7 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (Central Act 25 of 1955), the following section shall be inserted, namely : -

' "7-A. Special provision regarding suyarniiri-,-a!hai and seerthiruthiha marriages.- (1) This section shall apply to any marriage between any two Hindus. whether called suyamariyathai marriag: or seerthiruththa marriage @or by any other name, solemnised in the presence of relatives, friends or other persons- ,(a) by each party to the marriage declaring in any language (which is understood by the parties and 'by at leqt two persons in whose presepce the marriage is (b) by each pasty to the marriage garlanding the (c) by the t$n$ of the thali, (2) (a) Notwithstanding mything contained in section ?. to which this section applies solemnised after the commencement of the Hindu Marriage (Pondicherry Amendment) Aqt, 1971 shall be good and valid in law. (b) Notwithstanding anything colnt&ed in section 7 or in any text, rule or interprelation of Hindu law or any custom commencement of the HInclu Marriage (Pondicherry Amend- ment) Act, 1971, or in any other law in force immediate!^ kefore such commencement or in any judgment, decree sr orlcl.er of any court, but subject to sub-section (3), all marriages to which this section applie solernnised at any time before such commencement shall be deemed to have been, with efffci on and fro= the date of the solemmisation of each such marri~ge respectively, good and valid in law. (3) Nothing contained in this seciion shall be deemed to- (a) render valid any marriage r e f e n d lo in clause (b) of sub-section (2), if before the commencement of the Hindu Marriage (Pondicherry Amendment) Act, 1971,- (i) such marriage has L-een diss3lved under any custom (ii) the woman who wes a pgrty to such marriage has, yhether during or after the life gf the other party theretq, jawfvlly masrid apother ; or (b) render invalid a maartage belween any two Hinduq solemnged at any time before suuh comrnenceit?ent, if su& mqricge was valid gt that- time ; or (c) reader valid a'marriage between tiny .two tiindus gofemisecl at any time before SIXH commencement, if such marriage was invalid at that time on any ground other than that it was not solemnised in acxmdance with the customary I;titei-j and erem monies of either party ther&o : Provided that nothing contaiineld in this sub-section shall render any person liable to any punishment whatsoever by reason of anythbg dofie or omitted to be done by him before such conmencement, (4) .Any child of the parties to a marriage referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) born df such rnamiage shall be dermed to be the:? legitimate chi!d :' Fic.v;ded that in a case fa!l;ng unjor sub-cla~i.ce (i) cr srtb--!aL~se (ii) of clause (3) of su;-9ecti=t1 (2). SC+ ~!?iici ''-2': t:ego':ten bel'ore the date cf the dissalution of the marriage or. as the case may be, befcie the date of the second of the marriages referred io in Lhe said siib-clause (ii).".