Hindu Marriage Act Section 19 — Court to which petition shall be presented

General

Summary

A petition under this Act must be filed in the district court that has jurisdiction over any one of the following locations: where the marriage took place, where the respondent lives at the time of filing, where the couple last lived together, or, if the wife is the petitioner, where she lives on the date of filing. Additionally, if the respondent lives outside the territories where this Act applies, or has not been heard of as alive for seven years or more by those who would naturally know, the petitioner can file where they live at the time of filing.

Official Text

Every petition under this Act shall be presented to the district court within the local limits of whose ordinary original civil jurisdiction:—

(i) the marriage was solemnized, or

(ii) the respondent, at the time of the presentation of the petition, resides, or

(iii) the parties to the marriage last resided together, or 6[(iiia) in case the wife is the petitioner, where she is residing on the date of presentation of the petition, or]

(iv) the petitioner is residing at the time of the presentation of the petition, in a case where the respondent is at that time, residing outside the territories to which this Act extends, or has not been heard of as being alive for a period of seven years or more by those persons who would naturally have heard of him if he were alive.]