Marriage with cross cousin

Both of you re adults, go ahead and get married. Why should customs etc be a stumbling block to your Love?

Mother's younger brother's daughter No Problem, being a major what is the necessary of thinking.

Your case does not fall under PROHIBITIVE relationship. So no problem legally!

Thanks guys. Don't want all the thinking for later. It's my responsibility to let her know the consequences of our act. Nothing should come as a suprise later on...b4 we take a leap of faith...thnx 4 the support...

That is why if somebody could attempt to answer the queries, I would be highly obliged....

@ Author

Kindly read my reply given in https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/forum/Re-sapindas-24647.asp and probably take a printout of the ancient charts mentioned in the above reply for re-assurance.

What I could understand from the diagrams that our relationship is Sapinda.

Even though I believe that the modern definintion is third generation(inclusive) in the line of ascent through the mother, and the fifth (inclusive) in the line of ascent through the father, it does not make a difference as she is my first cousin.

My question still stands.....

your marriage is valid till both of you agree.

Dear Sam,

If you both love each other and of majority age, there is no problem. To clinch the issue to your satisfaction, here is a decision of the Bombay High Court. In a recent decision [WP(Crl) 977/2010] the Bombay High Court declined to agree with the prayer of a husband directing that the parents of her wife be directed to give the custody of the wife to her. The High Court noting that the marriage being first cousins, who were Hindus, was illegal and thus the Court could not give such direction. The High Court, however expressed no opinion on the arrangement entered into between the two being of the view that they both were majors and thus free to take their decisions.

The High Court inter alia observed as under;

2. Counsel appearing for the petitioner, however, submits that the Court should issue further direction to the respondents to hand over the custody of Harmandeep Kaur to the petitioner. Inthe facts of the present case, we do not think it proper to consider this prayer. That is so, because, it is the case of the petitioner that he has entered into marriage with Harmandeep Kaur on 21st January, 2009 knowing fully well that the said Harmandeep Kaur is his first cousin. In view of Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act, the marriage between the petitioner and Harmandeep Kaur Kuldeep Singh cannot be treated as valid. It is void on account of clause (v) of Section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. If the request of the petitioner was to be considered, it would be putting seal of approval of the Court on the arrangement arrived at between the petitioner and the said Harmandeep Kaur. At the same time, we may observe that said Harmandeep Kaur is admittedly major. She is free to take her own decision, if she so desires. That decision could be in consultation with her parents and relatives. We express no opinion with regard to that. In our opinion, no further order is warranted in this petition. Petition is disposed of. 

If  you   both  are  interested.......Go   Ahead  &   Live   a  Happy  Life.

Thanks for all the help...truly appreciate it...

I am trying to summarize from the above discussions. Please correct me wherever my understanding is wrong / or where I have requested for a clarification:

1) The marriage would not be treated as legal as per Hindu Marriage Act (and subsequent ammendments) as there are no family or community customs supporting marruage to a cousin.

2) As per instance by a recent court judgement, such a marriage would be treated as void if ever challenged legally by any party. 
We could still live together as we are adults.  Can we face harrasment from authorties in this case? Is there a document certifying a live-in relationship (just hoping)?

3)  I have not got an answer to my third question:
'Does the state (within India) where we intend to marry have any legal bearing on the marrriage. Or to put it differently, does the interpretation of the act differ in one state and the other?. If so, are which Indian state offers the most legal protection for such couples?'

4)  Trying to answer my 4th question:
It may be posssible to get a marriage certificate issued from a marriage officer  (by hiding the fact that we are cousins) but such would not stand valid in the court of law. Can any punitive action be taken against us for getting such a marriage certifcate issued?

5) Children from such marriage / live-in relationship would be treated as legal. Will they have equal rights like any other Indian Citizen? Will there be any issue for applying the laws of succesion?

Again appreciate all the help....

Thanks for thye earlier responses. Can somebody confirm the understanding that I have put in my above post. Thanks

Thanks for thye earlier responses. Can somebody confirm the understanding that I have put in my above post. Thanks

Thanks for all the help...truly appreciate it...

I am trying to summarize from the above discussions. Please correct me wherever my understanding is wrong / or where I have requested for a clarification:

1) The marriage would not be treated as legal as per Hindu Marriage Act (and subsequent ammendments) as there are no family or community customs supporting marruage to a cousin.

2) As per instance by a recent court judgement, such a marriage would be treated as void if ever challenged legally by any party. 
We could still live together as we are adults.  Can we face harrasment from authorties in this case? Is there a document certifying a live-in relationship (just hoping)?

3)  I have not got an answer to my third question:
'Does the state (within India) where we intend to marry have any legal bearing on the marrriage. Or to put it differently, does the interpretation of the act differ in one state and the other?. If so, are which Indian state offers the most legal protection for such couples?'

4)  Trying to answer my 4th question:
It may be posssible to get a marriage certificate issued from a marriage officer  (by hiding the fact that we are cousins) but such would not stand valid in the court of law. Can any punitive action be taken against us for getting such a marriage certifcate issued?

5) Children from such marriage / live-in relationship would be treated as legal. Will they have equal rights like any other Indian Citizen? Will there be any issue for applying the laws of succesion?

Again appreciate all the help....

dear sam,

i clearly understand u r situation b'coz i m also facing d same problems with my own relationship.....she is also my mother's, younger brother's daughter....i m frm u.p....we too are majors and can make own desicions....but want to live a hassle free life...

may be (i don't really know) conversion from hinduism to islam may solve the problem, with muslim marriage act being supportive to this kind of relationships.....also may be arya samaj may an option..

doing research for so many days for the answers to the questions you hv raised....but think we may find a suitable way....buye tc

vinay