1. Short title.— This Act may be called the 4
*** Majority Act, 1875.
Local extent. — 5
[It extends to the whole of India 6
[except the State of Jammu and Kashmir]].
Commencement and operation. —and it shall come into force and have effect only on the
expiration of three months from the passing thereof.
2. Saving.—Nothing herein contained shall affect: —
(a) the capacity of any persons to act in the following matters (namely), —marriage, dower,
divorce and adoption;
(b) the religion or religious rites and usages of any class of 7
[citizens of India]; or
(c) the capacity of any person who before this Act comes into force has attained majority under
the law applicable to him.
8
[3. Age of majority of persons domiciled in India. —(1) Every person domiciled in India shall
attain the age of majority on his completing the age of eighteen years and not before.
(2) In computing the age of any person, the day on which he was born is to be included as a whole
day and he shall be deemed to have attained majority at the beginning of the eighteenth anniversary of
that day.]
Illustrations
(a) Z is born in 2
[India] on the first day of January, 1850, and has 9
[an Indian domicile]. A guardian of his
person is appointed by a Court of Justice. Z attains majority at the first moment of the first day of January, 1871.
(b) Z is born in 2
[lndia] on the twenty-ninth day of February 1852, and has 10[an Indian domicile]. A
guardian of his property is appointed by a Court of Justice. Z attains majority at the first moment of the twentyeighth day of February, 1873.
(c) Z is born on the first day of January, 1850. He acquires a domicile in 2
[India]. No guardian is appointed
of his person or property of any Court of Justice, nor is he under the jurisdiction of any Court of Wards. Z
attains majority at the first moment of the day of January, 1868.