<P> Persons who are Muslims, Christians, Parsis or Jews are excluded from this definition . </P> <P> The act does not also apply to adoptions that took place prior to the date of enactment . However, it does apply to any marriage that has taken place before or after the Act had come into force . Moreover, if the wife is not a Hindu then the husband is not bound to provide maintenance for her under this Act under modern Hindu Law . </P> <P> Under this act only Hindus may adopt subject to their fulfilment of certain criteria . The first of these asserts that the adopter has the legal right to (under this Act that would mean they are a Hindu). Next, they have to have the capacity to be able to provide for the adopted child . Thirdly the child must be capable of being adopted . Lastly, compliance with all other specifications (as outlined below) must be met to make the adoption valid . </P> <P> Men can adopt if they have the consent of their wife or of all of their wives . The only way of getting around obtaining the permission of the wife or of the wives is if she or if they are unsound, if they have died, if they have completely and finally renounced the world, and if they have ceased to be a Hindu . Men who are unmarried can adopt as well as long as they are not a minor . However, if a man were to adopt a daughter, the man must be twenty one years of age or older . </P>

The hindu adoption and maintenance act of 1956