documentary evidence 15 notwithstanding anything in any enactment to the contrary, no document shall be inadmissible in any proceeding at the trial of a petition under this act on the ground that it is not duly stamped or registered, proceedings to be in camera and may not be printed or published 16 (/) every proceeding under this act shall be conducted in camera and it shall not be lawful for any person to print or publish any matter in relation to any such proceeding except a judgement of the high court or of supreme court printed or published with the previous permission of the court, (2) if any person prints or publishes any matter in contravention of the provisions contained in sub-section (1), he shall be punishable with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees and which may extend to five thousand rupees 17 () the trial of a petition under this act shall, as far as is practicable, consistently with the interest of justice in respect of the trial, be continued from day to day until its conclusion unless the court finds the adjournment of the trial beyond the following day to be necessary for reasons to be recorded, special provision relating to trial and disposal of petitions under the act (2) every petition under this act shall be made to conclude the trial within six months from the date of service of notice of the petition on the respondent (3) every appeal under this act shall be heard as expeditiously as possible, and endeavour shall be made to conclude the hearing within three months from the date of service of notice of appeal on the respondent enforcement of decrees and orders 18, all decrees and orders made by the court in any proceeding under this act shall be enforced in the like manner as the decrees and orders of the court made in the exercise of its original civil jurisdiction for the time being are enforced 19 (1) any marriage solemnized after the commencement of this act is void ifat the date of such marriage either party had a husband or wife living and the provisions of sections 494 and 495 of the indian penal code shall apply accordingly punishment tor contravention of certain conditions of marriage (2) every person who procures a marriage of himself or herself to be solemnized under this act in contravention of the conditions specified in clause (iii) of section 4 shall be punishable with simple imprisonment which may extend to fifteen-days or one thousand rupees or with both, 25 45 statement of objects and reasonsarticle 44 of the constitution states that the state shall endeavour to secure for the citizens uniform civil code throughout the country the present bill is a step in that direction it seeks to prohibit polygamy and permits the courts to grant maintenance and decide about the custody of children and disposal of the property for benefit of women and children, the bill does not take away rights of the parties to obtain divorce on the grounds available under personal laws but makes it mandatory to obtain it through intervention of the court it also permits the divorce on mutual consent where the marriage has broken down and cannot be reconciled the bill seeks to achieve the above objective new delhi; bachi singh rawat june 30,2004