Kochi: The Kerala High Court has ruled that a Muslim man cannot register his second marriage without informing his first wife. The court clarified that under the Kerala Registration of Marriages (Common) Rules, 2008, if a man’s first marriage is still legally valid, it is mandatory to inform the first wife before registering a second marriage.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan delivered this verdict while hearing a petition filed by a 40-year-old man from Kannur and his 38-year-old second wife from Kasaragod. The couple had challenged the decision of the local registrar who refused to register their second marriage on the grounds that the man had not informed his first wife.

The court stated that if the first wife objects to the second marriage, the registrar cannot proceed with the registration. In such cases, both parties must approach a civil court to obtain confirmation that the second marriage is legally valid, the court said in its judgment delivered on October 30.

The court also observed that under Muslim personal law, men are permitted to marry a second time only under specific circumstances.

Source: Vartha Bharathi ( translate in english)