law: Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
  2. Application of Act.-
  (1) This Act applies-
  (a) to any person who is a Hindu by religion
  
  in any of its forms or developments, including a Virashaiva, a Lingayat or a
  
  follower of the Brahmo, Prarthana or Arya Samam,
  (b) to any person who is a Buddhist, Jaina or
  
  Sikh by religion, and
  (c) to any other person domiciled in the territories
  
  to which this Act extends who is not a Muslim, Christian, Parsi or Jew by
  
  religion, unless it is proved that any such person would not have been governed
  
  by the Hindu law or by any custom or usage as part of that law in respect of
  
  any of the matters dealt with herein if this Act had not been passed.
  Explanation. - The following persons are Hindus, Buddhists,
  
  Jainas or Sikhs by religion, as the case may be:-
  (a) any child, legitimate or illegitimate, both of whose parents
  
  are Hindus, Buddhists, Jainas or Sikhs by religion;
  (b) any child, legitimate or illegitimate, one of whose parents
  
  is a Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh by religion and who is brought up as a
  
  member of the tribe, community, group or family to which such parent belongs or
  
  belonged; and
  (c) any person who is a convert or re-convert to the Hindu,
  
  Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh religion.
  (2) Notwithstanding any thing contained in sub-section (1),
  
  nothing contained in this Act shall apply to the members of any Scheduled tribe
  
  within the meaning of clause (25) of article 366 of the Constitution unless the
  
  Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, otherwise directs.
  (3) The expression 'Hindu' in any portion of this Act shall be
  
  construed as if it included a person who, though not a Hindu by religion is,
  
  nevertheless, a person to whom this Act applies by virtue of the provisions
  
  contained in this section.