Section 28: Marriage by unauthorised person

28. Marriage by unauthorised person (1) Where any person wishes to be married religiously with civil effect by an unauthorised person, he or the unauthorised person who will celebrate the marriage ceremony shall, not less than 10 days before the date of the proposed marriage, inform the Registrar of Civil Status in writing of that fact and of the time and place of the proposed marriage. (2) On receipt of notification under subsection (1), the Registrar of Civil Status shall designate an officer to attend to the marriage ceremony and inform the person who gave notice under subsection (1) of the designation of the officer. (3) An officer designated under subsection (2) shall— (a) ensure, in respect of the marriage, that the requirements of the Code Civil Mauricien and of section 20 (1) (a) and (b) are complied with; [Issue 1] C24 – 18 Revised Laws of Mauritius (b) attend the place of celebration of the marriage at least 15 minutes before the time appointed for the ceremony till the end of the marriage ceremony; (c) assist in the marriage ceremony either— (i) actively if the unauthorised person so requests; or (ii) passively; and (d) be responsible for the registration of the marriage by making an entry in the appropriate registers in the same manner as for a civil marriage. (4) The unauthorised person shall give the officer every assistance to enable the officer to fulfil his duties under subsection (3). [S. 28 amended by Act 9 of 1984.]