The Special Marriage Act, 1954
3. Marriage Officers. –
(1) For the purpose of this Act, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint one or more Marriage Officers for the whole or any part of the State.
(2) For the purposes of this Act in its application to citizens of India domiciled in the territories to which this Act extends who are outside the said territories, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,-
(a) in the case of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, specify such officers of the Central Government as it may think fit to be the Marriage Officers for the State or any part thereof; and
(b) in the case of any other country, place or area, appoint such diplomatic or consular officers as it may think fit to be the Marriage Officers for the country, place or area.
The Special Marriage Act, 1954