If parties to a Hindu marriage are “Sapindas” to each other and no custom or usage governing them…

Section 5(v) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 requires that the parties "are not sapindas of each other, unless the custom or usage governing each of them permits of a marriage between the two", and section 11 declares a marriage in contravention of clause (v) null and void.

Where no custom permits it, a sapinda marriage is therefore void, not merely voidable; section 12 voidability covers grounds such as impotence or consent obtained by force or fraud.