Christian marriages of women of British nationality to Asian men that were undertaken in temples and mosques were considered illegal because these worship places were not registered for the solemnisation of marriages.

Marriage of this type was regarded as an offence against Section 39 of the Marriage Act, 1836. There are a few criminal investigation department case files that are held in record series (PRO) RG48, covering the period 1900-1970.

For example, (PRO) RG48/2934-36 gives irregular marriages of Muslims for the period 1965-1971, and (PRO) RG48/2937-42 is for Sikhs for the period 1962-68. Please check the (PRO) RG48 series for more references.

Correspondence relating to marriages solemnised according to Muslim law is in (PRO) HO144/17244 covering the period 1905-33.

There was a hostility towards and disapproval of mixed marriages by British society and they were often sensationalised. Occasionally a mixed marriage made big news in the local newspapers.

There was also concern by the various Superintendent Registrars in India for the marriages of Englishwomen with Hindus or Muslims. The marriages were valid in England and not valid in India, since in India there was no lex loci, every person being governed by the law of his personal status at that time.

A Hindu therefore may marry again, without the consent of his wife, as his first marriage was not conducted according to the Hindu religion. A Moslem is entitled to have four wives and is not bound by any restrictive covenant, which he may have entered into with his first wife. A few case files containing details of such marriages with marriage certificates are held in the National Archives series (PRO) RG41 and (PRO) RG48.