Latest news with #ProhibitionofChildMarriage
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
State drafts new bill to curb rising child marriages despite existing laws
Bengaluru: Alarmedby the rising incidence of child marriages in the state, the Karnataka government has drafted the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, aiming to plug gaps in existing legislation and enforcement. Despite awareness campaigns and annual action plans, state data shows a worrying upward trend in child marriages. According to the Department of Women and Child Development, Karnataka recorded 2,165 child marriages between 2021 and 2025. Notably, 1,416 of these cases occurred in just the past two years—since the current Congress government assumed office. In 2024–25 alone, 700 child marriages were reported, alongside 3,049 complaints. Authorities claim they successfully prevented 2,349 planned marriages. Shivamogga district topped the list with 79 confirmed cases, followed by Belagavi (78), Chitradurga (74), Bagalkote and Mysuru (60 each), and Mandya (57).Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed serious concern during a review meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs on May 31. He reportedly reprimanded officials for failing to prevent the practice and instructed the Law Department to draft a bill targeting not only the act of child marriage but also its preparation and engagement arrangements. The bill has received initial approval from the Women and Child Development Minister and is now under legislative scrutiny before being tabled. The state's move comes as a critical intervention to address what officials describe as a persistent and deeply rooted social evil.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka proposes to amend child marriage law, extend punishment for even engagement
The Karnataka government plans to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act to criminalise not only child marriages but also attempts and preparations for child engagements. 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.
