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Consider the following statements: 1. In India, the Special Marriage Act protects an individual if one enters into an interreligious marriage. 2. Right to marry a person of one's choice is an integral aspect of one's Fundamental Rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. 3. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also resonates with the marital rights of every adult consenting individuals.
Explanation
In India, the Special Marriage Act (1954) provides a secular legal framework for interreligious and inter-caste marriages, ensuring legal recognition and protection for couples without requiring religious conversion. The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly affirmed that the right to marry a person of one's choice is an integral part of personal liberty and the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Landmark cases such as Lata Singh v. State of UP and Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (Hadiya case) established that consenting adults have the autonomy to choose their partners. Furthermore, Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) resonates with these rights, stating that men and women of full age have the right to marry and found a family without any limitation due to race, nationality, or religion. Thus, all three statements are correct.
Sources
- [1] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 8: Fundamental Rights > G Protection of Life and Personal Liberty > p. 90