The Bangalore Marriages Validating Act, 1936 was enacted on October 27, 1936 for the purpose of legalizing some type of marriages that are formalized in the Bangalore Military as well as Civil Stations. In the year 1929, Mr. Walter James McDonald Redwood Missionary under the Plymouth Brethren was pioneered under the license that was issued by the Mysore Resident. The license was given as per the provisions of the Indian Christian Marriage Act of 1872. The 1872 Act was enacted for the application of its provision to the Bangalore Military as well as Civil Stations. This was applied for the formalization of Marriages under the localities that are embraced in the Bangalore Military and Civil Stations. This was among persons who belonged under the traditional Christianity in the locality of Mysore and any of them belonged to the Christian beliefs according to the instructions of the sovereign.
It is also stated that the said Walter James McDonald Redwood was of the supposition that some marriages were to be formalized by him as he is empowered to do so under the Bangalore Military and Civil stations among some of the people following Christianity in accordance with the orders of the supreme authority. In addition, the persons coming under the purview of the marriages mentioned above presumed that Mr. Walter James McDonald Redwood was under the duty to formalize marriages and the marriages so formalized were legally binding. But, as the persons within the sphere of the said marriage were under the control of the sovereign Mr. Walter James McDonald Redwood lacked necessary power to sanctify marriages as per the license issued to him. Hence, it was necessitated to give legality to the marriages that are formalized in good faith.
In order to give effect to the said objectives, the Bangalore Marriages Validating Act was enacted which provided provision to legalize some irregular marriages. Accordingly, every marriage among the persons following Christianity as per the orders of the sovereign that are formalized previously through the Missionary of Plymouth Brehren by Mr. Walter James McDonald Redwood in the Bangalore Military as well as Civil Station shall be considered to be enforced starting from the day of formalization of all correspondingly. It shall be regarded as good and legal similar to that of marriages so formalized as per the license issued which sanctions the sanctification of marriages among the persons following Christianity according to the orders of the sovereign in the Bangalore Military as well as Civil Stations.
Furthermore, the Act states conditions for the legalization of documents dealing with irregular marriages. For that reason, the certificates and documents issued for the marriages that are affirmed as good and legally valid as per the provisions of the Act along with other registered records as well as certified replica of the correct and suitably confirmed summary of the said documents that are set down in observance with the terms of the Indian Christian Marriage Act passed in 1872 to the extend the registered records and the said summary connect with the mentioned marriages shall be obtained as proof and verification of the marriages similarly that such marriages are formalized according to the provisions of Part I of the present enactment.
Therefore, the Act provided for the validation of some of irregular marriages which lacked authority previously through license was issued to the Missionary. As it was required to authenticate that marriage for the advantage of the persons professing Christianity, the concerned authorities took initiative to enact a legislation to provide legal sanctity to those marriages formalized in the Bangalore Military as well as Civil Stations. Hence, the Bangalore Marriages Validating Act, 1936 can be said to be a social welfare legislation formulated for a class of persons.