Short title, extent and commencement.

1. (1) This Act may be called the Special Marriage Act, 1954. ((2) It extends to the whole of India 1***, and applies also to citizens of India domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who are 2[in the State of Jammu and Kashmir].
2. (3) It shall come into force on such date3 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

¹ The Act has been extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch. I and to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and Sch. I (w.e.f. 1-10-1963).

² The words "except the State of Jammu and Kashmir" omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Sch. (w.e.f. 31-10-2019).

³ Subs. by Act 33 of 1969, s. 29, for "outside the said territories" (w.e.f. 31-8-1969).

⁴ 1st January, 1955, vide notifn. No. S.R.O. 3606, dated 17th December, 1954, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3. The Act has been extended to State of Sikkim vide notify. No. S.O. 1629(E), dated 15th April 2021, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii).