{"id":2832,"date":"2024-12-13T13:45:05","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T13:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/?p=2832"},"modified":"2025-04-19T03:16:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T21:46:06","slug":"surajmani-stella-kujur-v-duga-charan-hansdah-2001-case-summary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/family-law\/surajmani-stella-kujur-v-duga-charan-hansdah-2001-case-summary\/","title":{"rendered":"Surajmani Stella Kujur v. Duga Charan Hansdah 2001 (Case Summary)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2832\" class=\"elementor elementor-2832\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-917020f elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"917020f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5aa9190\" data-id=\"5aa9190\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-0360c7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"0360c7f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f71d46a\" data-id=\"f71d46a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d818b36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d818b36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Surajmani Stella Kujur v. Duga Charan Hansdah AIR 2001 SC 938 (Case Summary)<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e246dd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e246dd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1312\" height=\"736\" src=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/a-photo-of-a-courtroom-with-a-long-table_hIt0Dq68Qn-NUmaaEeD6cQ_DT_KOEMpQOS8FJG-PQpW_w.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536 wp-image-2834\" alt=\"Surajmani Stella Kujur v. Duga Charan Hansdah AIR 2001 SC 938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/a-photo-of-a-courtroom-with-a-long-table_hIt0Dq68Qn-NUmaaEeD6cQ_DT_KOEMpQOS8FJG-PQpW_w.jpeg 1312w, https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/a-photo-of-a-courtroom-with-a-long-table_hIt0Dq68Qn-NUmaaEeD6cQ_DT_KOEMpQOS8FJG-PQpW_w-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/a-photo-of-a-courtroom-with-a-long-table_hIt0Dq68Qn-NUmaaEeD6cQ_DT_KOEMpQOS8FJG-PQpW_w-1024x574.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/a-photo-of-a-courtroom-with-a-long-table_hIt0Dq68Qn-NUmaaEeD6cQ_DT_KOEMpQOS8FJG-PQpW_w-150x84.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/a-photo-of-a-courtroom-with-a-long-table_hIt0Dq68Qn-NUmaaEeD6cQ_DT_KOEMpQOS8FJG-PQpW_w-768x431.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1312px) 100vw, 1312px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d9ee86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0d9ee86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court of India clarified the applicability of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, to Scheduled Tribes, highlighting the complexities of customary law and statutory interpretation in cases of alleged bigamy.<\/span><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/family-law\/surajmani-stella-kujur-v-duga-charan-hansdah-2001-case-summary\/#Facts_of_Surajmani_Stella_Kujur_V_Duga_Charan_Hansdah\" >Facts of Surajmani Stella Kujur V. Duga Charan Hansdah<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/family-law\/surajmani-stella-kujur-v-duga-charan-hansdah-2001-case-summary\/#Issues_framed\" >Issues framed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/family-law\/surajmani-stella-kujur-v-duga-charan-hansdah-2001-case-summary\/#Subordinate_Court_Judgment\" >Subordinate Court Judgment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/family-law\/surajmani-stella-kujur-v-duga-charan-hansdah-2001-case-summary\/#Judgment_of_Surajmani_Stella_Kujur_V_Duga_Charan_Hansdah\" >Judgment of Surajmani Stella Kujur V. Duga Charan Hansdah<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/family-law\/surajmani-stella-kujur-v-duga-charan-hansdah-2001-case-summary\/#Click_here_to_Read_the_Judgment\" >Click here to Read the Judgment<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facts_of_Surajmani_Stella_Kujur_V_Duga_Charan_Hansdah\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><b>Facts of Surajmani Stella Kujur V. Duga Charan Hansdah<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The appellant, Dr. Surajmani Stella Kujur, an Oraon by tribe, married the respondent, Durga Charan Hansdah, a Santhal by tribe.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The appellant alleged that the respondent solemnized a second marriage during the subsistence of their marriage.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The appellant filed a complaint seeking to prosecute the respondent for bigamy under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), asserting that their marriage was governed by Hindu rites and customs.<\/span><\/li><\/ol><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Issues_framed\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><b>Issues framed<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, is applicable to the parties, who are members of Scheduled Tribes, without a specific notification under Section 2(2) of the Act?<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who is a &#8220;Hindu&#8221; for the purposes of the applicability of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955?<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether the respondent&#8217;s second marriage, during the subsistence of the first marriage, is void under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, thereby attracting the offence of bigamy under Section 494 IPC?<\/span><\/li><\/ol><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Subordinate_Court_Judgment\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><b>Subordinate Court Judgment<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi dismissed the appellant&#8217;s complaint on the grounds of insufficient evidence to prove the existence of a custom prohibiting polygamy among the tribes.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Delhi High Court upheld the dismissal, stating that without a specific notification under Section 2(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Act did not apply to the parties.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Judgment_of_Surajmani_Stella_Kujur_V_Duga_Charan_Hansdah\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>Judgment of Surajmani Stella Kujur V. Duga Charan Hansdah<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The case in the Hon&#8217;ble Supreme court revolved around th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> interpretation of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, particularly its applicability to individuals from Scheduled Tribes under Section 2(2).<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Section 2(2) is reiterated for reference below:-<\/span><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSection 2 Application of Act.<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Section 2 (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the members of any Scheduled tribe within the meaning of clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution unless the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, otherwise directs.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The act is not applicable to the members of Scheduled Tribes unless explicitly extended by a notification and the legal principles governing bigamy under Section 494 IPC.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court held that in the absence of a notification extending the Hindu Marriage Act to Scheduled Tribes, the Act does not automatically apply. Additionally, the Court emphasized that to prove bigamy under Section 494 IPC, the appellant must establish the void nature of the second marriage under a custom with the force of law.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, concurring with the subordinate courts that no case for bigamy was made out due to the absence of proof of a custom making the second marriage void. The Court, however, left open the option for the appellant to seek maintenance or other civil remedies through appropriate legal proceedings\u200b.<\/span><\/p><h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Click_here_to_Read_the_Judgment\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/Surajmani-Stella-Kujur-v.-Duga-Charan-Hansdah-AIR-2001-SC-938.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>Click here to Read the Judgment<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8af0c99 elementor-widget elementor-widget-pdfjs-viewer\" data-id=\"8af0c99\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"pdfjs-viewer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe width=\"\" height=\"700\" src=\"https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdfjs-viewer-for-elementor\/\/assets\/js\/pdfjs\/web\/viewer.html?file=https:\/\/fawyerz.in\/judgments\/wp-content\/uploads\/Surajmani-Stella-Kujur-v.-Duga-Charan-Hansdah-AIR-2001-SC-938.pdf\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a significant judgment, the Supreme Court of India clarified the applicability of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, to Scheduled Tribes, highlighting the complexities of customary law and statutory interpretation in cases of alleged bigamy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2834,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"right-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"normal-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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