Family and Marriage Law

Option A is correct. Zihar is a form of divorce in Islamic (Muslim Personal) law where the husband makes a comparison between his wife and a female relative within prohibited degrees (such as mother or sister). This comparison, if intended, creates an irrevocable divorce. Khula is divorce at wife's instance, Illa involves conditional swearing, and Mubarrah is mutual divorce.

In Shamim Ara Vs. Union of India (2002), the Supreme Court held that 'Triple Talaq' (Talak-ul-Biddat) is not a valid form of divorce under Muslim law as it violates the Quranic principles of arbitration and reconciliation. The court ruled that such divorces must be preceded by attempts at reconciliation and are not valid if pronounced in a single sitting.

Under Muslim law, a marriage between a Muslim male and a Christian female (Kitabiya - 'people of the book') is considered valid. Muslim law permits Muslim men to marry women from Ahl-e-Kitab (people with revealed scriptures like Christians and Jews), though the marriage is irregular (Faskh) if the wife does not eventually convert to Islam. However, the marriage is not void ab initio.

To prove a dowry offense, prosecutors must show: (1) demand for dowry was made, (2) within 7 years of marriage (the 'dowry death' presumption window), and (3) there was cruelty or harassment specifically in connection with that demand. All elements together establish the offense under Dowry Prohibition Act and IPC 304B.

Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the grounds of divorce appear in this order: Section 13 lists fault-based grounds (adultery, cruelty, desertion, etc.); Section 13A provides for breakdown (no resumption of cohabitation); Section 13B allows divorce by mutual consent; and Section 29 recognizes customary divorces. The Act was amended in 1976 to add the breakdown and mutual consent provisions. Option A correctly reflects this legislative sequence.

Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, marriage of a girl below 18 years is voidable at her option, not automatically void. This means the marriage remains valid until the girl (who was a child at the time of marriage) approaches the court to get it annulled. The law protects minors by giving them the right to challenge such marriages while also recognizing social realities.

Under Section 5(i) of the Hindu Marriage Act, a bigamous marriage is void. Section 16 provides that children born from void marriages (including bigamous ones) are legitimate children of their parents. While both statements are legally correct, the legitimacy of the child doesn't explain why bigamous marriage is void - these are separate legal provisions.

Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 allows a petition to be filed in multiple jurisdictions: where the marriage was solemnized, where the respondent resided at the time of presentation, or where the parties last resided together. This provides flexibility to the petitioner and ensures access to justice. The section is designed to prevent jurisdictional hardships.

The marriage is valid.

A family court is a court convened to decide matters and make orders in relation to family law.

Decision given under Section 25 is termed as order of a court. Any order made by a court under Section 25 shall be appealable in the court to which appeal ordinarily lies from the decisions of the court given under the exercise of its original jurisdiction.

A Hindu wife shall be entitled to be maintained after the death of her husband by her father-in-law under Section 19 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act and such obligation of father-in-law shall cease on the remarriage of the daughter-in-law.

Section 25 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act clearly provides that the amount of maintenance fixed may be altered subsequently if there is a material change in the circumstances justifying such alteration.

While granting alimony, a court has to consider that the amount of alimony shall not exceed one-fifth of the husband’s net average income for the last three years.

The obligation of parents to maintain their unmarried daughter extends in so far as the unmarried daughter is unable to maintain herself out of her own earning or other property. This provision is given under Section 20 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act.