Infant Marriage in India.

The Court of the Judicial Commissioner of Sind has, according to a local paper, annulled the marriage in which the husband was not yet old enough to stand on his legs. A Mahomedan girl of 10 years was married to 12 months by the girl’s father who, it was alleged by his wife, was a spendthrift and a profligate. The mother of the girl brought a suit to set aside the marriage as being prejudicial to her daughter. The Sub-Judge set aside the marriage, but on appeal the assistant judge reversed the decree on the ground that the disparity of age was not such as to be prejudicial to the girl. The Judicial Commissioner in reversing the decision said: “The finding that the marriage is not prejudicial to the minor girls rests on no evidence at all. It is in fact opposed to the evidence, for it is surely a cruel thing to bind the wedlock a girl of 10, who is approaching puberty, to an infant in arms.”