Gujarat HC: Hindu Marriage Invalid Without Rituals, Registration Not Enough

The Gujarat High Court has ruled that a marriage certificate alone cannot make a Hindu marriage legally valid. The court held that registration only serves as proof of an existing valid marriage and does not create one. Essential religious ceremonies such as Saptapadi must be performed for a Hindu marriage to be legally recognised. The ruling came in a case where the woman herself admitted that no wedding rituals had taken place, despite the couple holding a registered marriage certificate. The judgment underscores that religious rites take precedence over documentation under Hindu marriage law.