Marrying minor girls to invite 2-year jail term, warns officer

Karminder Kaur, Protection-cum-Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, Rohtak, has cautioned the wannabe grooms and their parents that marrying minor (under-age) girls would lead to the imposition of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on them.

The officer warned that those involved in organising such marriages would also face legal action. “As per the law, the marriage of a girl under 18 or a boy under 21 years of age is considered a child marriage and is a punishable offence. This can result in up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 lakh. Besides, such marriages are not legally valid,” she said.

Kaur stated that nine complaints of child marriages were received during the last financial year. Of these, six marriages were successfully prevented, while two were found to be false and in one case, a formal complaint was registered. Two such complaints have been received in the current financial year so far, and both marriages were prevented.

“Awareness campaigns against child marriages are conducted throughout the year. A major awareness initiative was undertaken this year as well on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya by the Department of Women and Child Development and the MDD of India organisation,” she said.

The officer said flex boards with information about the Child Marriage Prohibition Act were installed at temples, mosques, gurdwaras and churches, adding that meetings were held with religious leaders at these places of worship, requesting them to raise awareness among devotees, given their influential position in society.