Section 2 of SMA : Section 2: Definitions

Explanation using Example

Imagine a couple, John and Jane, who want to get married under The Special Marriage Act, 1954. Jane has a half-brother, Mike, from her mother's first marriage, and a full brother, Alex, from both her parents. When considering their marriage, they need to ensure that they are not within the "degrees of prohibited relationship" as defined in the Act.

According to the Act, since John is not related to Jane by blood, adoption, or any other means mentioned in the Act, they are not within the degrees of prohibited relationship. Even if Jane had been adopted into the family, the Act clarifies that relationships by adoption are treated the same as relationships by blood for the purposes of determining prohibited degrees of relationship.

Therefore, John and Jane are legally allowed to marry under The Special Marriage Act, 1954, as they do not fall under the prohibited degrees of relationship.