The Majority Act, 1875 (XI of 1875)

Last Updated: Tuesday April 17, 2007

The Majority Act, 1875

(XI of 1875)

An act to amend the law respecting the age of majority

Preamble:---Whereas, in the case of persons domiciled in [Pakistan], it is expedient to prolong the period of non-age, and to attain more uniformity and certainty respecting the age of majority than now exists: It is hereby enacted as follows:---

1. Short title.---This Act may be called the [* *] Majority Act, 1875.

Local extent:---[It extends to the whole of Pakistan;]

Commencement and operation:---And it shall come into force and have effect only on the expiration of three months from the passing thereof.

2. Savings:---Nothing herein contained shall effect,---

(a) the capacity of any person to act in the following matters (namely), marriage, dower, divorce and adoption;

(b) the religion or religious rites and usages of any class of [citizens of] [Pakistan]; or

3. Age of majority of persons domiciled in Pakistan.---Subject as aforesaid, [every minor of whose person or property, or both a guardian, other than a guardian for a suit within the meaning of [Order 32 of the First Schedule of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) has been or shall be appointed or declared by any Court of Justice before the minor has attained the age of eighteen years, and every minor of whose property the superintendence has been or shall be assumed by any Court of Wards before the minor has attained that age] shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the that age shall, notwithstanding anything contained in the [Succession Act, 1925 (XXXIX of 1925)] or in any other enactment, his majority when he shall have completed his age of twenty-one years and not before.

4. Age of majority how computed.---In computing the age of any person, the day on which he was born is to be included as a whole day, and he shall be deemed to have attained majority, if he falls within the first paragraph of Section 3, at the beginning of the twenty-first anniversary of that day, and if he falls within the second paragraph of Section 3, at the beginning of the eighteenth anniversary of that day.

Illustrations

(a) Z is born in [Pakistan] on the first day of January, [1949] and has a [Pakistan] domicile. A guardian of his person is appointed by a Court of Justice, Z attains majority at the first moment on the first day of January, [1970].

(b) Z is born in Pakistan on the twenty-ninth day of February, [1948], and has a Pakistani domicile. A guardian of his property is appointed by a Court of Justice, Z attains majority at the first moment of the twenty-eight day of February, [1969].

(c) Z is born on the first day of January, [1948]. He acquires a domicile in [Pakistan]. No guardian is appointed of his person or property by any Court of Justice, nor is he under the jurisdiction of any Court of Wards. Z attains majority at the first moment of the first day of January, [1966].