Marriage is a legally recognized union between two individuals that comes with a set of rights and obligations. This blog post provides an overview of the legal responsibilities of marriage and highlights the key rights and duties that spouses have towards each other. Some of the key legal responsibilities of marriage include financial support, fidelity, and mutual respect. Spouses are legally obligated to provide financial support for each other and their children, and they must also remain faithful to each other during the marriage. Additionally, spouses have a duty to treat each other with respect and dignity. In terms of legal rights, married couples enjoy several benefits, such as the right to make medical decisions for each other, the right to inherit property from each other, and the right to file joint tax returns. Married couples also have legal protections in the event of divorce, such as the right to seek spousal support and the right to an equitable division of property. It’s important for couples to understand their legal responsibilities and rights in marriage in order to build a strong and healthy relationship. By knowing what is expected of them and what they are entitled to, spouses can work together to build a happy and fulfilling life together.

Marriage is a legal and social institution that binds two individuals in a lifelong commitment. It is an important institution that has been recognized and protected by the law in India for centuries. Marriage comes with a set of legal responsibilities, rights, and obligations that are recognized and enforced by the courts. In this article, we will discuss the legal responsibilities of marriage under Indian law and explore some landmark court cases that have shaped the legal landscape of marriage in India.

Legal Responsibilities of Marriage under Indian Law:

1. Financial support: Under Indian law, spouses have a legal obligation to provide financial support to each other and their children. This obligation extends to both during the marriage and after the dissolution of the marriage. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, provides for the maintenance of the wife by the husband during the subsistence of the marriage and even after the divorce. Similarly, the Indian Divorce Act, 1869, provides for the maintenance of the wife by the husband during the marriage and after the dissolution of the marriage. The court can order the husband to pay maintenance to the wife if she is unable to maintain herself.
2. Fidelity: Spouses have a legal obligation to remain faithful to each other during the subsistence of the marriage. This obligation is implicit in the marriage vows and is recognized and enforced by the courts. In India, adultery is a ground for divorce, and a spouse can seek divorce if the other spouse has committed adultery.
3. Mutual respect: Spouses have a legal duty to treat each other with respect and dignity. This obligation extends to all aspects of the marriage, including communication, behavior, and decision-making. Spouses who engage in domestic violence or harassment can be held liable under the law.
4. Sureshta Devi v. Om Prakash (1991): In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that a second marriage entered into by a Hindu husband during the subsistence of the first marriage would be void and the wife of the first marriage would be entitled to maintenance under Section 125 of
5. the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The court held that the second wife would not have any legal rights as a wife under Hindu law.
6. K. Srinivas Rao v. D.A. Deepa (2013): In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that a wife who is a victim of domestic violence can file a complaint under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, even if she is not living with her husband. The court held that the act provides for protection to a wife who is subjected to domestic violence, regardless of whether she is living with her husband or not.
7. Shabnam Hashmi v. Union of India (2014): In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that a Muslim woman can claim maintenance from her husband even after the dissolution of the marriage. The court held that a Muslim woman is entitled to maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, just like women from other religions.
8. K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017): In this case, the Supreme Court of India held that the right to privacy is a fundamental right under the Constitution of India. The court held that the state cannot interfere with the private lives of individuals, including their personal choices, relationships, and sexuality, unless it is necessary for a legitimate purpose.
   • Marriage is an important institution that has been recognized and protected by the law in India for centuries. Spouses have a set of legal responsibilities, rights, and obligations that are recognized and enforced by the courts. The legal responsibilities of marriage include financial support, fidelity, mutual respect, cohabitation, and legal protection. The courts have also delivered landmark judgments that have shaped the legal landscape of marriage in India. It is important for couples to understand their legal responsibilities and rights in marriage in order to build a strong and healthy relationship. By knowing what is expected of them and what they are entitled to, spouses can work together to build a happy and fulfilling life together.