Section 2 in The Jammu and Kashmir Hindu Marriage Act, 1980
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 Samaj,(b)to any person who is a Buddhist, Jain or Sikh by religion, and(c)to any other person 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, Jains or Sikhs by religion, as the case may be :-(a)any child, legitimate or illegitimate, both of whose parents are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs by religion ;(b)any child, illegitimate or legitimate, one of whose parents is a Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh by religion and who is brought up as a member of 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, Jain or Sikh religion.(2)The expression 'Hindu' in any provision 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.
