Published on : 05 Nov 2025, 4:56 am 5 min read

The Kerala High Court recently held that a Muslim man’s second marriage cannot be registered under the Kerala Registration of Marriages (Common) Rules, 2008, without first notifying and hearing his first wife. [XXXX & anr v State of Kerala & ors].

Justice PV Kunhikrishnan observed that while muslim personal law allows a man to have multiple wives, such a right could not override the constitutional principles of equality and fair hearing.

The judge emphasised that registration of marriage is a legal requirement and procedural fairness under the 2008 Rules requires that the first wife, whose marriage subsists, should be issued with a notice before the registration of her husband's second marriage.

"A man must respect the constitu

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