Raising Legal Marriage Age for Women is Not the Silver Bullet for India’s Child Marriage Problem
3 years ago

Raising Legal Marriage Age for Women is Not the Silver Bullet for India’s Child Marriage Problem

News 18  

The welcome move of change in minimum age of marriage in India has once again trained the focus on women and the shackles they have to face in the society. The age of marriage was addressed for the first time through the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, also known as the Sarda Act, which finalised the minimum marriageable age for girls at 14 years and for boys at 18 years. Later, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 was enacted and the minimum marriageable age limits were revised to 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. It is expected that by making marriage of women below the age of 21 illegal, the rate of child marriages in India would decrease. Since child marriages continue to take place despite laws prohibiting them, a potential effect of this legislation would be that a vast majority of Indian women who marry, or are forced to marry, before they turn 21 would be left without the protections that a legally recognised marriage would have otherwise provided.

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History of this topic

Supreme Court's Judgment on Child Marriage: A Violation of Fundamental Constitutional Rights
2 months ago

Supreme Court's Judgment on Child Marriage: A Violation of Fundamental Constitutional Rights

Live Law  

The Supreme Court has issued guidelines to prevent child marriages, stating that child marriages violate the rights to self-determination, choice, autonomy, sexuality, health and education of children. The Court noted that child marriages impose mature burdens on children who are not physically or mentally prepared to comprehend the significance of marriage. When women are forced into marriages to protect their …

Contention over Himachal Pradesh govt. bringing in law for marriage age as Congress’ State unit ‘unaware’ of legislation
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Contention over Himachal Pradesh govt. bringing in law for marriage age as Congress’ State unit ‘unaware’ of legislation

The Hindu  

Even as the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh recently passed a Bill increasing the marriageable age of women to 21 years from 18 years, State Congress president Pratibha Singh on Friday said she was “unaware” of the legislation before it was brought in the Assembly. The State government’s move is significant as the Congress had in 2021 opposed ‘The Prohibition …

What does Himachal Pradesh’s Bill raising women’s minimum marriage age entail? | Explained
3 months, 3 weeks ago

What does Himachal Pradesh’s Bill raising women’s minimum marriage age entail? | Explained

The Hindu  

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill raising the minimum marriageable age for women from 18 to 21 years. Thus, it is proposed to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and other related Acts in their application to the State of Himachal Pradesh and increase the minimum age for marriage for girls to 21 years,” the …

What’s The New Minimum Age Of Marriage For Women In Himachal Pradesh? Is It Applicable To All? Bill Explained
3 months, 3 weeks ago

What’s The New Minimum Age Of Marriage For Women In Himachal Pradesh? Is It Applicable To All? Bill Explained

News 18  

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has passed a bill that increases the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years in order to support gender equality and higher education. Thus, it is proposed to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and other related Acts in their application to the State of Himachal Pradesh and increase the …

Himachal assembly passes bill raising marriage age for women
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Himachal assembly passes bill raising marriage age for women

Hindustan Times  

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill raising the marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years. The state assembly passed the prohibition of child marriage seeking to raise the marriageable age of women by voice vote. Introducing the bill, health and women empowerment minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that provision of Child Marriage Act 2006 was …

Himachal Pradesh raises minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Himachal Pradesh raises minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years

The Hindu  

The Himachal Pradesh State Assembly on Tuesday passed a Bill increasing the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years in order to support gender equality and higher education. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2024 was introduced by Women Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil in the State Assembly during its ongoing monsoon session. In order to …

Analysing India’s progress towards the elimination of child marriages
10 months ago

Analysing India’s progress towards the elimination of child marriages

Hindustan Times  

India has made remarkable strides in the decline of child marriages over the last few decades and has led global progress to eliminate the practice. There is also a discrepancy in reported numbers, where despite high prevalence of child marriages recorded under NFHS-V, National Crime Records Bureau’s annual ‘Crime in India’ report recorded an average of only around 360 incidents …

14-Yr-Old Girl Married In Maha’s Thane Over Promise Of Gold, 1 Lakh Cash. Police Nab 5 Accused
1 year, 3 months ago

14-Yr-Old Girl Married In Maha’s Thane Over Promise Of Gold, 1 Lakh Cash. Police Nab 5 Accused

ABP News  

Five persons were arrested and three are at large in a child marriage case in Thane district in Maharashtra, news agency PTI reported citing a police official said on Saturday. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006 outlaws child marriage and provides for its prevention as well as the protection of child brides. For solemnising a child marriage, the …

No government scheme benefits to those marrying below 18 in AP: CS
1 year, 4 months ago

No government scheme benefits to those marrying below 18 in AP: CS

Deccan Chronicle  

VIJAYAWADA: The benefits of government schemes will not be given to those who get married below the age of 18 in Andhra Pradesh. Jawahar Reddy said the government would take firm steps to prevent child marriages, for both boys and girls and create awareness among the people against underage marriages. According to the new rules, child marriage prohibition officers will …

Why does child marriage continue to be an issue in India? | In Focus podcast
1 year, 10 months ago

Why does child marriage continue to be an issue in India? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

Earlier this month, Assam began a massive crackdown against child marriages in the State - so far, over 4,000 cases have been registered and over 3,000 people have been arrested. Assam has high rates of child marriage - while the all-India figure as per the latest National Family Health Survey was 23.3%, in Assam, the figure was 31.8 percent. The …

Parliament can amend the law to provide uniform marriage age: Supreme Court
1 year, 10 months ago

Parliament can amend the law to provide uniform marriage age: Supreme Court

The Hindu  

Noting that there are some matters which should be left to the “ultimate wisdom of the Parliament”, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking to enhance the minimum age of marriage of women from 18 years to 21 years, on par with men. Mr. Upadhyay had sought the court to strike down 18 years as the minimum age …

Explained | Why is the Supreme Court examining marriage laws for minors?
1 year, 10 months ago

Explained | Why is the Supreme Court examining marriage laws for minors?

The Hindu  

The story so far: Earlier this month, the Supreme Court announced that it would examine whether minor girls, as young as 15 years, can marry on the basis of custom or personal law when such marriages are considered an offence in statutory law. On January 13, the Supreme Court said it would examine whether girls as young as 15 years …

'Shouldn't wait...': Assam CM wants women to embrace motherhood at an 'appropriate age'
1 year, 10 months ago

'Shouldn't wait...': Assam CM wants women to embrace motherhood at an 'appropriate age'

India Today  

Women should embrace motherhood at the "appropriate age", said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma even as he warned men against marrying younger girls -- underscoring his government's commitment to stop underage marriages and motherhood. Sarma was speaking at the ceremonial appointment letter distribution programme at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakhetra in Guwahati, where he distributed appointment letters to 1,208 selected candidates …

Marriage With Minor Girl Not Void U/S 11 Of Hindu Marriage Act: Karnataka High Court
1 year, 11 months ago

Marriage With Minor Girl Not Void U/S 11 Of Hindu Marriage Act: Karnataka High Court

Live Law  

The Karnataka High Court has set aside an order passed by the family court under the Hindu Marriage Act by which it declared the marriage between a couple to be null and void, as the woman was minor at the time of marriage. A division bench of Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice S Vishwajith Shetty observed that Section 11 of …

Supreme Court to examine whether girls aged 15 can be married off under Muslim personal law when statutes make it an offence
1 year, 11 months ago

Supreme Court to examine whether girls aged 15 can be married off under Muslim personal law when statutes make it an offence

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on January 13 decided to examine whether girls as young as 15 years can enter into wedlock on the basis of custom or personal law when such marriages constitute an offence in statutory law. Chandrachud issued a formal notice on the petition filed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights against a recent order of …

SC seeks Centre’s response on NCW’s plea seeking uniform marriageable age
2 years ago

SC seeks Centre’s response on NCW’s plea seeking uniform marriageable age

Firstpost  

The petition, which cited a recent decision of the Delhi High Court allowing a minor Muslim girl’s marriage on the ground that it is permitted under the Muslim personal law, sought equal application of penal laws to Muslim women who were married off before attaining the age of majority New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response on …

Muslim girls above 15 years can marry, it would not violate the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act: Punjab and Haryana HC cite Sharia law
2 years, 1 month ago

Muslim girls above 15 years can marry, it would not violate the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act: Punjab and Haryana HC cite Sharia law

Op India  

The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently reaffirmed that a Muslim girl who reaches the age of 15 can marry whoever she wants, and such a marriage would not violate the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. In his order, Justice Vikas Bahl stated, “Such a marriage would not be void in terms of Section 12 of the Prohibition of Child …

Delhi HC cites Sharia to justify child marriage, calls a 15-year-old's marriage legal
2 years, 4 months ago

Delhi HC cites Sharia to justify child marriage, calls a 15-year-old's marriage legal

Op India  

The Delhi High Court recently justified child marriage by upholding the legality of a 15-year-old minor girl’s marriage, stating that she is of ‘Marriageable Age’ under Islamic Sharia Law. Granting protection to the couple, the Court observed: “It is thus clear that as per Mohammedan Law girl who had attained the age of puberty could marry without the consent of …

What India must learn from Bangladesh’s attempts to reform child marriage law
2 years, 4 months ago

What India must learn from Bangladesh’s attempts to reform child marriage law

Hindustan Times  

The Bill has been brought forward on the assumption that raising the legal age will eradicate the practice of child marriage. The research project sought to determine how knowledge of the law changed behaviours and attitudes towards child marriage in rural areas of Bangladesh. The study found that providing individuals with information about a new law did impact individuals’ attitudes …

PIL Against Permissibility Of Marriage Of Girls Below 18 Yrs Of Age Under Muslim Law: Uttarakhand HC Issues Notice
2 years, 5 months ago

PIL Against Permissibility Of Marriage Of Girls Below 18 Yrs Of Age Under Muslim Law: Uttarakhand HC Issues Notice

Live Law  

The Uttarakhand High Court recently sought the reply of the state government as well as of the Centre on a Public Interest Litigation plea questioning the permissible age of marriage under Muslim Law.The PIL plea further seeks a direction to the Union of India to take immediate measures for effective implementation of "The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2021"It may …

The way to end child marriage
2 years, 6 months ago

The way to end child marriage

The Hindu  

Since child marriage is rampant in India, will increasing the age of marriage of women solve this issue? Only 4% of child marriages in India take place among women who have completed more than 12 years of education. Thus, the data confirm that a significant proportion of child marriages takes place among women with less than 12 years of schooling …

Parliament panel to examine Bill proposing marriage age change on Wednesday
2 years, 8 months ago

Parliament panel to examine Bill proposing marriage age change on Wednesday

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports would examine the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill in its first meeting on April 13. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2021 proposes to amend the existing law to bring parity at the minimum marriageable age for men and women. The Bill will also affect laws relating …

Mahindra University : IWD Debate On "Law of Marriage Age: Useful or Useless?"
2 years, 9 months ago

Mahindra University : IWD Debate On "Law of Marriage Age: Useful or Useless?"

Live Law  

Whether Raising Legal Age of Marriage for Women: A Step towards Right to Equality or just a Political Move? The debate saw a wide array of arguments ranging from how this move by the government promotes gender equality, overall health, and mental well being of women to why this move will not have the desired impact and will instead lead …

Increasing legal age of marriage to 21: Is it a boon or a bane for Indian women?
2 years, 9 months ago

Increasing legal age of marriage to 21: Is it a boon or a bane for Indian women?

Live Mint  

Mahima was married off a few days after she turned 16. However, in 1978, an amendment was passed under the Child Marriage Restraint Act to increase the marriageable age for girls to 18. Now, to bring women on equal footing with men, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government has decided to raise the legal age of marriage of women to …

Women and marriage: Who makes the decision? | VIEWS
2 years, 11 months ago

Women and marriage: Who makes the decision? | VIEWS

India Today  

Talking about weddings is said to be our national past time; with the number of Covid-delayed weddings witnessed in this season, our timelines are filled with details of lavish events with images of over-the-top celebrity nuptials absolutely taking the cake. Read | Priyanka Chaturvedi demands more inclusive panel to review legal marriage age for women LAW Majority of the world …

Is it right to increase the age of marriage of women to 21?
2 years, 11 months ago

Is it right to increase the age of marriage of women to 21?

The Hindu  

In the recent session of Parliament, the government introduced the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2021, to raise the age of marriage for women from 18 years to 21 years. Noorjehan Safia Niaz: The main concern of this law is not so much about equality but to raise the age of marriage for women to 21 years. Noorjehan Safia Niaz: …

Odisha child commission opposes raising legal age of marriage to 21
2 years, 11 months ago

Odisha child commission opposes raising legal age of marriage to 21

The Hindu  

The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has opposed the move to raise the legal age for marriage of girls to 21 saying it would not be effective in preventing child marriages and at the same time it could create unwed mothers as another Act permits consensual sex after 18. In a letter addressed to Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe, …

Absurd to Think Men Won’t Do Justice, Says Parl Panel Chief After Row Over Only 1 Woman MP in Committee
2 years, 11 months ago

Absurd to Think Men Won’t Do Justice, Says Parl Panel Chief After Row Over Only 1 Woman MP in Committee

News 18  

In the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, of the 31 members who would be examining the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill that was introduced in Lok Sabha during the winter session, only one is woman lawmaker. “The committee has the mandate to scrutinise the Bill but it will not be done without consulting the stakeholders …

Parliamentary panel on marriage age has only one woman MP
2 years, 11 months ago

Parliamentary panel on marriage age has only one woman MP

The Hindu  

The parliamentary panel assigned to examine the landmark bill which seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women to 21 has only one woman MP out of 31 members. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, which will have wider influence over society especially females, was introduced in Lok Sabha during the winter session and referred to the Parliamentary …

Parl panel that will examine bill to raise legal age of marriage has one woman member out of 31
2 years, 11 months ago

Parl panel that will examine bill to raise legal age of marriage has one woman member out of 31

India TV News  

Highlights Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill seeks to raise legal age of marriage for women to 21 TMC MP Sushmita Dev is the only woman among the 31 members These panels are constituted by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha The parliamentary panel assigned to examine the landmark bill which seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women …

Only 1 woman member in panel that will examine bill to raise legal marriage age
2 years, 11 months ago

Only 1 woman member in panel that will examine bill to raise legal marriage age

Hindustan Times  

Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev is the only woman member of the parliamentary panel that will examine the Prohibition on Child Marriage Bill seeking to increase the age of legal marriage of women from 18 to 21 years. According to the members' list of the parliamentary standing committee, led by senior BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, available on the Rajya Sabha website, …

The ideal age of marriage, according to neuroscience
2 years, 11 months ago

The ideal age of marriage, according to neuroscience

Live Mint  

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2021, which seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women in India from 18 to 21, has recently been introduced in Parliament by the government. Now, with the government’s decision to raise their marriage age to 21, the gap between a girl attaining puberty and getting married has widened a bit more. …

The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill has a flawed notion of gender justice
2 years, 11 months ago

The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill has a flawed notion of gender justice

The Hindu  

It has become a habit of sorts for the National Democratic Alliance government to usher in legislation that either no one wants or that defies logic. Therefore, there has been a steady increase in enrolment in higher education by women even when the legal age of marriage was set at 18. If 40.8 per cent women were married off before …

Is Amendment to Marriage Act a Precursor to Uniform Civil Code?
2 years, 11 months ago

Is Amendment to Marriage Act a Precursor to Uniform Civil Code?

News 18  

The Modi government has stoked yet another controversy by introducing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, which seeks to raise the marriageable age of women to 21 years, making it uniform for both women and men. Since various Opposition parties, Muslim officials, and Muslim clerics have declared resistance to the notion, they say, the BJP in Uttar Pradesh will be …

Age and marriage, what the government says, what the laws prescribe
2 years, 11 months ago

Age and marriage, what the government says, what the laws prescribe

The Hindu  

December 26, 2021 11:00 am | Updated 11:02 am IST Will raising the marriage age for women empower them? That might sound possible at first glance, but seen against the backdrop of increasing social and state control over marriage, the proposed law may be disturbing. Raising the age of marriage and age of consent have both been considered as progressive …

Law to raise marriage age causes a flutter in western U.P.
2 years, 11 months ago

Law to raise marriage age causes a flutter in western U.P.

The Hindu  

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2021, which seeks to increase the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years, has begun to show its socio-political impact in western Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Jaglan, who is known for advocating the “Selfie with daughter” initiative, has been holding such panchayats in Haryana and Rajasthan, and said it was the …

Why Criminalising Early Marriage Will Do More Harm than Good
2 years, 11 months ago

Why Criminalising Early Marriage Will Do More Harm than Good

News 18  

Questions pertaining to increasing the age of marriage for girls have been in the collective conscious of young people since last year when the Prime Minister announced this possible amendment during his Independence Day speech. Pushing Marriages Underground Early marriage in India is the result of several deep-rooted social norms, such as the belief that a woman’s honour can be …

Not all Muslims oppose marriage bill
3 years ago

Not all Muslims oppose marriage bill

The Hindu  

While Muslim political parties have opposed amendments to the child marriage law to raise the age at marriage for women to 21, terming them an attack on personal laws, voices within the community advocating equal rights, have welcomed the move. It also says that it will over ride all personal laws — section 2 of the Amendment Bill states that …

As a Kashmiri Woman, I Find Move to Raise Legal Marriage Age a Bold Step towards Gender Equality
3 years ago

As a Kashmiri Woman, I Find Move to Raise Legal Marriage Age a Bold Step towards Gender Equality

News 18  

In India, the legal age of marriage for women has been 18 years since 1978. The move by the Government of India to increase the legal marriage age for women to 21—a change after 43 years—and bring it on a par with men can revolutionise the approach to address deep-seated socio-economic and cultural issues and boost women’s economic status in …

'Aimless, uneducated girls will go astray if not married soon': Nuh Bar Association president
3 years ago

'Aimless, uneducated girls will go astray if not married soon': Nuh Bar Association president

Op India  

As fundamentalist and regressive forces continue to oppose the Centre’s proposal to raise the age of legal marriage for women from 18 to 21, Sajid, the president of Nuh District Bar Association said that “aimless and uneducated women” would transgress if they remain unmarried till the age of 21. But those who have no aim, are uneducated, are considered ‘burden’ …

Amendments to marriage age contradict other laws
3 years ago

Amendments to marriage age contradict other laws

The Hindu  

The amendments proposed to the anti-child marriage law defines a child as someone under the age of 21 years and contradicts laws where the legal age of competence is recognised as 18 years. Senior advocate Indira Jaising tweeted: “How patronising and patriarchal to call someone over the age of 18 a ‘child’, ready and fit to vote but not to …

Lok Sabha refers marriage bill to panel for further scrutiny
3 years ago

Lok Sabha refers marriage bill to panel for further scrutiny

Live Mint  

A bill seeking to bring legal marriageable age for women at par with that of men was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid massive protest by the opposition and was referred to a parliamentary panel for further scrutiny by the Lower House following a voice vote. Invoking different marriage laws of different faiths, I rise to introduce the …

Raising Marriage Age of Women to 21 to Enable Them to Make Decisions, Be Self-Reliant: Bill - News18
3 years ago

Raising Marriage Age of Women to 21 to Enable Them to Make Decisions, Be Self-Reliant: Bill - News18

News 18  

The move to raise the minimum marriage of women to 21 is aimed towards the empowerment of women, gender equality, increasing the female labour force participation, making them self-reliant and “to enable them to take decisions themselves”, the government has said in the ‘Statement of Objects and Reasons’ of the bill introduced in Parliament. The bill says the amendments in …

LS sends bill to raise women’s age at marriage to standing committee
3 years ago

LS sends bill to raise women’s age at marriage to standing committee

The Hindu  

As the Lok Sabha on Tuesday sent the proposed law raising the age of marriage for women to 21 to a Standing Committee, Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani said it would ensure uniformity across all religions and communities. “The age of marriage should be uniformly applicable to all religions, caste, creed, over-riding any custom or law that …

Bill to increase marriage age for women introduced in Lok Sabha, referred to Standing Committee
3 years ago

Bill to increase marriage age for women introduced in Lok Sabha, referred to Standing Committee

India TV News  

A bill that seeks to have a uniform age of marriage for men and women was introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid protests by opposition members, with Union minister Smriti Irani urging the chair to refer it to a parliamentary panel. Irani introduced the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2021 that seeks to increase the legal minimum age for …

Age and marriage: The Hindu Editorial on raising the age of marriage for women
3 years ago

Age and marriage: The Hindu Editorial on raising the age of marriage for women

The Hindu  

Good intent does not guarantee favourable outcomes. In her Budget speech last year, Finance Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the Government would set up a task force to look into the age of a girl entering motherhood with an aim to lower maternal mortality rates, improve nutrition levels as well as ensure opportunities to women to pursue higher education and …

Explained | Is raising marriage age enough to help girls?
3 years ago

Explained | Is raising marriage age enough to help girls?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Government has listed its proposal to raise the age of marriage for women to 21 for legislative business in Parliament in the coming week. The Special Marriage Act, 1954, which governs inter-faith marriages also lays down 18 years for women and 21 years for men as the age of marriage. In her 2020 Budget speech, …

Marriage age Bill faces Opposition resistance
3 years ago

Marriage age Bill faces Opposition resistance

The Hindu  

Resistance is growing among the Opposition parties against The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill that seeks to increase the legal age for marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. Venugopal, said that no political party is opposed to bringing gender parity and working for the women’s rights, but at the same time, he questioned the government’s intention in bringing …

Raising Age of Marriage Uniformly is Welcome but… Writes Zakia Soman Who Led Battle against Triple Talaq
3 years ago

Raising Age of Marriage Uniformly is Welcome but… Writes Zakia Soman Who Led Battle against Triple Talaq

News 18  

The Union government has taken a decision to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. The government had appointed a committee headed by politician Jaya Jaitly to evaluate the feasibility of raising age of marriage and its implications on health and education opportunities for women and children. They also recommended other affirmative measures for …

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