Section 22 Hindu Marriage Act 1955: In Camera Proceedings and Publication Bar

Section 22 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 protects the privacy of matrimonial proceedings. It requires every proceeding under the Act to be conducted in camera and restricts the printing or publication of material relating to such proceedings.

In simple terms: an HMA matrimonial case is not an ordinary open-court proceeding for unrestricted public reporting. The hearing must be conducted in camera, and matter relating to the proceeding cannot lawfully be printed or published except to the limited extent permitted by Section 22 itself.

What does "in camera" mean?

An in-camera proceeding is a private court proceeding in which public access is restricted. In the context of matrimonial litigation, the rule is intended to protect the parties from unnecessary disclosure of private marital and family matters. Section 22 makes this protection mandatory for proceedings under the Hindu Marriage Act.

Section 22: Proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published

Section 22(1)

Every proceeding under the Hindu Marriage Act must be conducted in camera. A person cannot lawfully print or publish matter relating to such a proceeding. The statutory exception concerns a judgment of a High Court or the Supreme Court, which may be printed or published with the previous permission of that Court.

Section 22(2)

A person who prints or publishes matter in contravention of sub-section (1) is punishable with a fine which may extend to Rs. 1,000.

The paragraph above explains the current statutory rule in plain language. For authoritative wording, refer to the official India Code text linked below.

What material is covered by the publication restriction?

The wording of Section 22(1) is broad. It prohibits printing or publishing "any matter" in relation to a proceeding under the Act, subject to the stated exception for a High Court or Supreme Court judgment published with previous permission of the Court. The restriction therefore should not be read as applying only to a transcript or formal court record.

Why does Section 22 protect matrimonial proceedings?

Matrimonial cases commonly involve personal allegations, family relationships, financial information, children and other private matters. Courts interpreting Section 22 have emphasized the privacy and confidentiality of parties to matrimonial litigation. The provision gives statutory protection to that confidentiality by combining an in-camera hearing requirement with a publication restriction.

Can a High Court or Supreme Court judgment be published?

Section 22 itself contains a limited exception. A judgment of a High Court or the Supreme Court may be printed or published with the previous permission of the Court. The statutory text should be checked before publishing case material, particularly where private facts from matrimonial proceedings are involved.

Penalty for prohibited publication

Under Section 22(2), contravention of the publication restriction is punishable with a fine that may extend to Rs. 1,000. The amount stated in the provision has not been modernized merely because publication now commonly occurs through electronic or social-media channels; the statutory text continues to state the same maximum fine.

Related provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act

Section 22 forms part of the procedural framework for matrimonial litigation. Readers may also refer to Sections 21, 21A, 21B and 21C, Section 23 on decrees and relief, Section 23A on relief for the respondent, and Sections 24 and 25 on maintenance and permanent alimony.

Official legal source

Read the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 on India Code, maintained by the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.

Legal position reviewed: 27 September 2026. This page is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on the facts of a particular case.