Second Marriage in Nepal – Easy Look at the Bigamy-Related Legal Provisions (2080)

This article will help you to know all the information about the law related to second marriage in Nepal.

Marriage is a legally, formally, and morally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship. Section 68 of the National Civil Code, 2074 B.S. envisions marriage as a permanent, inviolable, and holy social and legal bond, which is based on free consent and established to start conjugal and family life between a man and a woman.
Marriage is a holy bond that has been corrupted and violated since time immemorial. The deviation from the established norms and legal frameworks of marriage is deemed to be an offense related to marriage among which the most frequent and prevalent offense is bigamy.

Second marriage in Nepal is not only immoral but is also illegal and punishable by law. In a country like Nepal where family structure, rituals, customs, traditions as well as law is largely influenced by Hindu Jurisprudence, bigamy irreversibly deteriorates, permanently destroys, and irreparably damages the conjugal relationship.

Bigamy is a crime in most countries that recognize only monogamous marriages. Bigamy is the unlawful contracting of marriage by or with a person who is already married to another.

Bigamy refers to the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. Where a person commits bigamy, often neither the first nor second spouse is aware of the other. Bigamy is one of the main reasons for conjugal infidelity.

According to Black’s law dictionary, “Bigamy is the criminal offense of willfully and knowingly contracting a second marriage (or going through the form of a second marriage) while the first marriage is still legally valid.”

Law related to second marriage in Nepal is guided by the Muluki Civil Code 2074 as well as Muluki Criminal Code 2074.

LEGAL PROVISIONS REGARDING Second Marriage in Nepal

The law related to second marriage in Nepal has been enshrined both in National Civil Code as well as National Penal Code as follows:

National Civil Code

According to Section 71(2)(e) of the National Civil Code, 2074 B.S., “No one shall conclude, or cause to be concluded, marriage with a man or a woman who is already married, by way of misrepresentation.” Furthermore, Section 71(3) empowers a person who is aggrieved from the conclusion of marriage by way of misrepresentation with a person who is already married to other people to get such a marriage voided and claim reasonable compensation from the person who concludes or causes to be concluded, marriage by misrepresentation.

National Penal Code

The act of bigamy is prohibited and punishable as per Section 175 of the National Penal Code as follows:

Section 175: Prohibition of bigamy:

(1) No married man shall, during the continuation of the marital relationship, conclude another marriage.

(2) No woman shall conclude marriage with a man knowing that he is already married.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or (2), a man or woman may marry again if the husband and wife have got separated upon making partition in accordance with the law.

(4) A person who commits, or causes to be committed, the offense referred to in subsection (1) or (2) shall be liable to a sentence of imprisonment for a term of one year to five years and a fine of ten thousand to fifty thousand rupees.

(5) The marriage referred to in sub-section (1) shall, ipso facto, be void.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Section, nothing contained in this Section shall be deemed to have an effect on any marriage concluded in accordance with the law in force for the time being prior to the commencement of this Act.

STATUTE OF LIMITATION for SECOND MARRIAGE in NEPAL

Section 176 of the National Penal Code provides that, “No complaint about bigamy shall lie after the expiry of three months from the date of knowledge of the commission of the offense.” Hence, the charge sheet shall be registered in the court within 3 months of the knowledge of the offense of bigamy.

PROCEDURAL ASPECT OF OFFENCE OF BIGAMY

According to Schedule 1(1)(a)(10) of the National Penal Code, 2074 B.S., bigamy is a government plaintiff case that is prosecuted by the Government Attorney on behalf of the victim.

The victim has to complain and communicates the details of the case to the police in the form of a First Information Report (F.I.R.) in accordance with Section 4 of the National Criminal Procedure Code, 2074 B.S. The concerned police officer investigates the offense and prepares a case file which is sent to the concerned District Government Attorney’s Office.

If in view of the proof and evidence collected, the concerned government attorney considers that there is adequate evidence for instituting the case, the concerned government attorney shall prepare a charge sheet in the form referred to in Schedule-20 and shall submit the charge sheet to the concerned District Court within the time limit.

Case of Idris Maya

The Supreme Court in the case of Government of Nepal vs Idris Miya held that bigamy is contrary to established legal, moral, and religious framework and principles and extra-territorial jurisdiction can be invoked with regards to the offense of bigamy.

CONCLUSION

Hence, second marriage in Nepal is a category of offense against marriage that has been in practice in Nepalese society since time immemorial and in the present time has been prohibited, punished as well as forbidden by civil as well as criminal laws in force.

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