Whereas we believe that the marriage laws in this country are one-sided and have made the social life of many a woman unbearable; and whereas we believe that this has led a number of them to commit suicide or go wrong, the All-India Women’s Conference demand that the laws be improved and changed to suit modern conditions of life in the following way:
(a) Neither must have a husband or a wife living at the time of marriage.
(b) The consent of both the parties concerned shall be necessary before their marriage;
(c) No marriage shall take place if either the girl is below the age of sixteen or the boy is below the age of twenty-one.
(d) There shall be no restriction to marriage on the grounds of caste or community; and no declaration shall be necessary to denounce their community which is based on religion before two persons can marry.
(e) Either party can dissolve the marriage under certain conditions which will include cruelty, desertion for three years, suffering from incurable disease and impotency.
(f) Such cases for divorce shall be conducted in camera before a special matrimonial court.
(g) The divorced wife shall claim alimony from the husband until such time as she marries again or until she is able to earn her own living.
(h) The dowry system be abolished by law.