LawRato

Restitution of Conjugal Rights in Hindu Marriage Act

September 03, 2024

Table of Contents
  1. Restitution of Conjugal Rights in Hindu Marriage Act
  2. Three essential conditions for Section 9 of HMA
  3. How to get your spouse to live with you again?
  4. Restitution of Conjugal Rights for different religions:
  5. You will not be granted Restitution of Conjugal Rights if-
  6. How to file for Restitution of Conjugal Rights?
  7. What can a Lawyer do for you?

Restitution of Conjugal Rights in Hindu Marriage Act

Conjugal rights are the sexual rights and privileges implied by and involved in a marital relationship. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA) gives a remedy under Section 9 for restitution of conjugal rights if a person's spouse has left without giving any reasonable grounds, i.e. when either the husband or the spouse has, without a reasonable excuse, withdrawn from the society of other, the aggrieved party may apply for restitution of conjugal rights.

The party in distress can file a petition to the respective district court after which the court records the statements of both parties made in the petitions and if the court finds no legal ground as to why the application should not be granted, the judge may decree restitution of conjugal rights in the aggrieved's favor.


LawRato
Consult top-rated Divorce lawyers in your city
LawRato 641+ Lawyers are online



Three essential conditions for Section 9 of HMA

First, one party has to have left the company of the other in a way that can be called as withdrawn from the society as other. Second, it must not be for any reasonable explanation. Third, the aggrieved person must apply for the restoration of conjugal rights.

The district court can order the restitution or conjugal rights if these conditions are met. This will allow the estranged couple to cohabit.

If the court is not convinced and finds the petitioner guilty then the decree of restitution of conjugal rights is not granted.

If the parties are not following the decree for cohabitation after the passing of the decree, continuously for about a year, it becomes a ground for divorce under Section 13 .


How to get your spouse to live with you again?

If your spouse has-

  • deserted or abandoned you willingly, or

  • lives separately without any reasonable excuse, or

  • denies you his/her company, or

  • does not stay with you for a reasonable amount of time,

You may file for Restitution of Conjugal Rights at the district family court and if the court is satisfied, it may order your spouse to stay with you. And if your spouse does not follow the court orders of staying with you, it can attach and sell your spouse's property under Order 21 Rule 32 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).


Restitution of Conjugal Rights for different religions:

If the religion of the couple is-

  • Hindu - Section 9 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

  • Muslim - Section 32 of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869

  • Christianity - Section 33 of the Indian Divorce Act, 1869

  • Parsi - Section 36 of the Paris Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936

If the couple comprises of different religions, it shall fall under section 22 of the Special Marriage Act.


LawRato
Consult top-rated Divorce lawyers in your city
LawRato 641+ Lawyers are online



You will not be granted Restitution of Conjugal Rights if-

  • If your spouse has a reasonable ground for abandoning you like-

  • Completing studies or

  • Due to transfer in service

  • If your spouse has a ground for divorce

  • If you are guilty of any matrimonial misconduct

  • If you are guilty of any conduct which makes it impossible for your spouse to live with you. For e.g. - You neglect your wife or You constantly demand dowry.

The burden of proof is on the spouse who is filing for the restitution. After you have proved your part, your spouse gets a chance to present any reasonable cause for separation.


How to file for Restitution of Conjugal Rights?

  • File a petition of restitution of conjugal rights at the district family court where you and your spouse were residing after marriage.

  • Send a copy of the petition to your spouse with a hearing date, fixed by the court.

  • Both you and your spouse must be present in the court on the date of hearing as decided by the court otherwise, the Court can pass an ex parte decree (order passed against the spouse who is absent).

  • The court often sends the spouses for court counseling which approximately takes a time of 4 months.

Further, the judge listens to both sides and takes considerations from your counseling sessions, and after being satisfied grants restitution for conjugal rights to the spouses.
 


What can a Lawyer do for you?

Divorce can be stressful for all parties involved. Hiring an experienced divorce lawyer is a good way to ease the tension. The lawyer will not only gather information about the case from you, but will also handle all of the paperwork. This will give you more time to spend with your family and yourself. A divorce lawyer with years of experience can provide you with expert advice about how to deal your divorce. You can also use LawRato's  Free Legal Advice  service that allows you to receive free legal advice from divorce/matrimonial experts. Divorce lawyers are experts in the law and can help avoid costly mistakes. Hiring an attorney will help a person avoid delays.



These guides are not legal advice, nor a substitute for a lawyer
These articles are provided freely as general guides. While we do our best to make sure these guides are helpful, we do not give any guarantee that they are accurate or appropriate to your situation, or take any responsibility for any loss their use might cause you. Do not rely on information provided here without seeking experienced legal advice first. If in doubt, please always consult a lawyer.

Connect with top Divorce lawyers for your specific issue

Comments by Users


No Comments! Be the first one to comment.

Popular Divorce Lawyers


Advocate Sunil Kumar Bakshi
Sector-16, Faridabad
39 years Experience
Advocate Madhuri Bakshi
Sector 16, Faridabad
11 years Experience
Advocate Rajeev Nigam
Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur
32 years Experience
Advocate Bala Janaki
Thambuchetty Street, Chennai
41 years Experience

User Reviews


LawRato LawRato LawRato LawRato LawRato 4.5 - 30 reviews
A
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

good article on restitution of conjugal rights

Ankur on Sep 09, 2026
G
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

How can I contact a divorce lawyer from your panel?

Gopal on Sep 22, 2026
A
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

how to find a good divorce lawyer?

Akshay on Sep 18, 2026
V
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

please share the procedure for mutual divorce

Vikrant on Sep 24, 2026
K
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

Can I get custody of my children on the grounds of my ex-wife's drinking problem?

Kunal on Oct 04, 2026
P
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

Can I get custody of my children on the grounds of my ex-wife's drinking problem?

Pratibha on Sep 30, 2026
S
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

please share the procedure for mutual divorce

Sudha on Oct 16, 2026
S
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

How can I contact a divorce lawyer from your panel?

Suresh on Sep 30, 2026
K
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

good article on restitution of conjugal rights

Komal on Oct 13, 2026
M
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

how to find a good divorce lawyer?

Manu on Sep 17, 2026
K
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

The writer has explained the law perfectly.

Karan on Sep 12, 2026
S
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

good work

Sumit on Oct 10, 2026
A
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

The article is written ver well. Learned a lot about my case through this.

Amit on Sep 03, 2026
R
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

can you share your helpline number

Rashi on Sep 19, 2026
M
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

very helpful and detailed

Murali on Sep 16, 2026
R
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

good article and easy to understand

Rajiv on Sep 29, 2026
D
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

who can I contact for my legal case?

Devendra on Sep 05, 2026
M
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

Thanks for the detailed article.

Mayur on Sep 24, 2026
R
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

informative with the law.

Rachna on Oct 14, 2026
A
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

Helped a lot in understanding the law.

Aman on Sep 19, 2026
S
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

how to contact a lawyer for my legal case?

Sunil on Sep 25, 2026
D
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

learned all the basics about the legal issue. Good article. Keep it up.

Dipak on Oct 12, 2026
A
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

good work. Keep it up

Abhishek on Sep 22, 2026
P
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

loved the way concept is explained. Nicely written for any layman to understand.

Prasad on Sep 20, 2026
A
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

nice article. Good legal advice

Archana on Oct 12, 2026
S
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

thanks for the info. How can we contact a lawyer?

Sunitha on Sep 04, 2026
G
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

great advice. Thanks

Ganesh on Oct 14, 2026
K
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

Gave me a very clear idea of the subject.

Kartik on Oct 02, 2026
V
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

solved my queries.

Vikas on Sep 07, 2026
P
LawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRatoLawRato

good article. Can you give some more detail on the issue.

Pooja on Sep 23, 2026

VIEW ALL