FIRE SERVICES
- “Fire Services“ is a State subject and has been included as a municipal function in the XII schedule of the Constitution of India in terms of Article 243-W.
- As such, it is the primary responsibility of the state governments / municipal bodies to enforce the National Building Code and allocate sufficient resources for strengthening and equipping Fire Services to ensure that safety of life and property of citizens.
- 13th Finance Commission has recommended that a portion of grants provided to the urban local bodies should be spent on revamping of fire services within their respective jurisdiction. It also recommended that all municipal corporations with a population of more than 1 million (2001 census) must put in place a fire hazard response and mitigation plan for their respective areas.
PERSONAL LAW
- The subject matter of personal laws is relatable to entry 5 of List III- Concurrent list in the 7th Schedule to Constitution of India and hence Union Legislature, namely Parliament and state legislatures are also competent to make laws in the field.
MARRIAGE
- Law relating to marriage and divorce has been codified in different enactments applicable to people of different religions. These are: (1) the Converts Marriage Dissolution Act, 1866; (2) the Divorce Act, 1869; (3) the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872; (4) the Kazis Act, 1180; (5) the Anand Marriage Act, 1909; (6) the Indian Succession Act, 1925; (7) the Parsi Marriage And Divorce Act, 1936; (8) the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act, 1939; (9) the Special Marriage Act, 1954; (10) the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955; (11) the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969; and (12) the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986.
- The Special Marriage Act, 1954 which provides for a special form of marriage and the registration of such marriages extends to the whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but also applies to the citizens of India domiciled in Jammu and Kashmir.
- As regards Muslims, marriages are governed by the Mohammedan Law prevalent in the country.
- The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 governs the matrimonial relations of Parsis. The word ‘Farsi’ is defined in the Act as a Parsi Zoroastrian. A Zoroastrian is a person who professes the Zoroastrian religion.
- As for the matrimonial laws of Jews, there is no codified law in India. Even today, they are governed by their religious laws. Jews do not regard marriage as a civil contract, but as a relation between two persons involving very sacred duties.
