Officials prevent weddings of 2 minor girls in Fatehabad

The Fatehabad district authorities have prevented the marriages of two underage girls after receiving a tip-off on Monday. Acting swiftly, officials visited the families, verified the girls’ ages, and stopped the wedding ceremonies.

Rekha Agarwal, District Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, said she received confidential information that two girls, aged 15 and 17, were to be married in a secret ceremony on December 4. Acting promptly, the team visited the location to verify the claims and check the documents.

“The verification confirmed that the girls were below the legal age for marriage,” Agarwal said.

The family, which has four daughters and a son, had planned to marry off the elder and younger daughters simultaneously. While a wedding card was printed for the elder daughter, the younger girl’s marriage was to be conducted secretly. The prospective grooms were aged 26 and 24. Officials found that a mehndi ceremony was underway at the house for the elder daughter, while the younger daughter’s wedding preparations were concealed. After discussions with the authorities, the family agreed to cancel both marriages.

The elder girl had completed her matriculation, while the younger girl is only partially educated.

Since April 2025, the Fatehabad district administration has intervened to stop around 20 child marriages. “The fight against child marriage requires vigilance from both the authorities and society. Every child deserves a chance to grow, study, and make their own choices,” she said.