Karnataka proposes to amend child marriage law, extend punishment for even engagement
A draft of the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes to insert new sections into the existing Act. 'Punishment for attempt and preparation to make child marriage or attempt and preparation to make engagement of a child,' reads Section 9A in the draft Bill.
As per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, enacted by Parliament, the maximum imprisonment of two years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh are only applicable in cases of child marriage. The proposed Karnataka amendment extends the same provisions to child engagements, too.
'Whoever, make(s) an attempt and preparation to make child marriage, or attempt and preparation to make engagement of a child shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or both,' the draft Bill says.
While section 10 of the existing Act relates to 'punishment for solemnising a child marriage', the amendments propose to change it to 'punishment for preparation and solemnising a child marriage'.
The draft Bill was based on the directions issued during a meeting of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with deputy commissioners and chief executive officers of all districts on May 31. Noting the recurrence of child marriages in Karnataka, as around 700 cases were reported last year, more stringent regulations were proposed during the meeting, according to sources.
Other changes include the insertion of section 12A in the parent law, which will render the engagement of a minor child null and void. Section 13(A), another proposed amendment, empowers courts to 'issue injunction prohibiting child engagement' to 'any person including a member of an organisation or an association of persons prohibiting such engagement'.
The Bill is expected to be taken up in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Karnataka legislature.
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