Union Cabinet set to clear amendments to Prohibition of Child Marriage Act

The Union Cabinet is set to clear amendments to the laws protecting underage girls from marriage. To begin with, the women and child development ministry’s bill making child marriage “void ab initio”, or invalid from the outset, will be taken up at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Sources in the ministry said while the existing law — Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 — recognises child marriage as valid but “voidable” at the option of the minor involved the amendment will make all future child marriages in the country invalid from the outset.

The Act in its current form makes the marriage of a man who is over 18 years with a woman under 18 a cognisable and a non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment of two years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh, but recognises the union as valid. “It is very rare for an underage bride to report an early marriage, so this amendment is necessary.”