I registered my marriage under the Special Marriage Act in Nainital but lost my marriage certificate, how do I get a duplicate?

Detailed Legal Analysis

A marriage certificate issued under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is a crucial document and a duplicate can be obtained from the Marriage Registrar. In Nainital, you must apply to the Marriage Registrar who issued the original certificate with a request for a duplicate.

The Uttarakhand High Court has held that the Marriage Registrar has a duty to issue a duplicate certificate on application and payment of the prescribed fee. Uttarakhand Rent Control Act 2011 may prescribe the procedure and fee for obtaining a duplicate marriage certificate.

You must submit an affidavit stating the circumstances of the loss and the details of the marriage. The registrar will verify the records and issue a duplicate certificate.

You should keep the duplicate certificate safely and obtain certified copies for future use. The duplicate certificate has the same legal validity as the original.