Can an Indian Have Two Wives?
The short answer to this question is no, an Indian cannot have two wives. Polygamy is illegal in India for all citizens except for Muslims, who are allowed to have four wives. Hindus in Goa and along the western coast are allowed to have two wives, but this is a recent legal development.
The legal status of polygamy in India has changed over the years. In the past, polygamy was legal in India, but in 1956, the Indian government passed a law making polygamy illegal for all citizens except for Muslims. This law was enacted uniformly across the country, with the exception of Hindus in Goa and along the western coast, who were allowed to have two wives.
The Indian Supreme Court has also weighed in on the issue of polygamy in India. In a landmark ruling in 2017, the court declared that any Hindu marriage involving polygamy was null and void. This ruling was based on the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, which states that any marriage involving polygamy is not valid.
The legal status of polygamy in India is still a controversial issue. While some argue that polygamy should be allowed in certain cases, such as when a man has multiple wives due to a family tradition, others argue that polygamy should remain illegal.
Overall, the answer to the question of whether an Indian can have two wives is no. Polygamy is illegal in India for all citizens except for Muslims, who are allowed to have four wives. Hindus in Goa and along the western coast are allowed to have two wives, but this is a recent legal development. The Indian Supreme Court has also declared that any Hindu marriage involving polygamy is null and void.