Special Marriage Act, 1954
26. Legitimacy of children of void and voidable marriages
(1) Notwithstanding
that a marriage is null and void under section 24, any child of such marriage
who would have been legitimate if the marriage had been valid, shall be
legitimate, whether such child is born before or after the commencement of the
Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976, and whether or not a decree of nullity is
granted in respect of that marriage under this Act and whether or not the
marriage is held to be void otherwise than on a petition under this Act.
(2) Where a decree of
nullity is granted in respect of a voidable marriage under section 25, any
child begotten or conceived before the decree is made, who would have been the
legitimate child of the parties to the marriage if at the date of the decree it
has been dissolved instead of being annulled, shall be deemed to be their
legitimate child notwithstanding the decree of nullity.
(3) Nothing contained
in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall be construed as conferring upon any
child of a marriage which is null and void or which is annulled by a decree of
nullity under section 25, any rights in or to the property of any person, other
than the parents, in any case where, but for the passing of this Act, such
child would have been incapable of possessing or acquiring any such rights by
reason of his snot being the legitimate child of his parents.]