International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160     Impact Factor: 9.24

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Call for Paper Volume 6 Issue 5 September-October 2024 Submit your research before last 3 days of October to publish your research paper in the issue of September-October.

Bigamy: Law V Social Reality

Author(s) KASHIKA GOEL
Country India
Abstract This paper examines the practice of bigamy among Hindus in India, highlighting the disparity between legal prohibitions and social realities. Despite the criminalization of bigamy under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the practice continues in Indian society. The essay explores three key factors contributing to the persistence of bigamy: underreporting by women due to social pressures and abuse, the shift of second marriages into secrecy, and men exploiting legal loopholes to avoid punishment. The legal system’s rigid evidentiary requirements, particularly the burden of proof placed on the first wife to prove the completion of essential marriage rituals, further complicate the prosecution of bigamy. Cases such as *Bhaurao v. State of Maharashtra* and *Mukta Jesing v. Vallabhadas* illustrate the challenges women face in seeking justice. This paper argues that the current legal framework, while well-intentioned, is inadequate in addressing the underlying social dynamics, inadvertently allowing the practice to persist in various forms.
Keywords 1. Bigamy 2. Hindu Marriage Act 3. Legal loopholes 4. Evidentiary burden 5. Polygamy
Published In Volume 6, Issue 5, September-October 2024
Published On 2024-09-26
Cite This Bigamy: Law V Social Reality - KASHIKA GOEL - IJFMR Volume 6, Issue 5, September-October 2024. DOI 10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i05.27957
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i05.27957
Short DOI https://doi.org/g59zt6

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