‘Planning Also Criminal’: Karnataka Set To Tighten Law Against Child Marriage Amid Rise In Incidents | India News
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Under the proposed changes, even engagements will come under scrutiny and those involved could face prosecution while the magistrate will have more power to take proactive steps
In the last three years, Karnataka has recorded an alarming figure of 1,465 cases of child marriage.(Image for representation: IMAGEN 3 ENGINE)
A young girl from Karnataka’s Shivamogga, who had scored an impressive 82 per cent in Class 12, stood her ground and called the child helpline in May when her family started pressing her get married on ‘Akshaya Tritiya’, a day widely considered auspicious for weddings and engagements.
In another case from Belagavi in the state, a 15-year-old girl was discovered to have been married not once but twice before reaching the legal age. She was first married off at the age of 12 and, after the relationship fell apart, she was wedded again at 15. Both times, she suffered the loss of two children at birth. It was only after a local NGO, Spandana, intervened that she was rescued. An investigation later revealed that her Aadhaar card had been tampered with – allegedly altered to increase her age by five years to make the marriages appear legal.
In the last three years, Karnataka has recorded an alarming figure of 1,465 cases of child marriage. This worrying trend, coupled with increasing cases of forged Aadhaar documents to falsify minors’ age, has prompted the state to push for tougher changes to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
“This is exactly what we want to stop. These illegal activities are being secretly carried out, which is why we are tightening the law – to make every step more difficult and ensure people are afraid of the consequences,” said a law department official.
WHAT IS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT?
A draft version of the upcoming Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, accessed by News18, proposes new sections.
Under the proposed changes, not just the act of conducting a child marriage but even initiating plans or preparations, such as engagements, will now be treated as criminal offences. The punishment includes a prison term of up to two years or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Section 9A of the draft has outlined punishment for any person involved in the attempt or preparation of a child marriage or engagement, thereby expanding the net of accountability.
“Whoever makes 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 amendment states.
Authorities feel that by intervening at the planning stage – before the marriage takes place – they will be able to block many cases. Mass weddings, especially during the festival season, have become hotspots for underage marriages. While many are caught, some still manage to slip through.
The draft amendment also includes a new clause stating “where a child being a minor is engaged for the purpose of marriage, such engagement shall be considered null and void”.
This means that even engagements – not just marriages – will come under legal scrutiny, and those involved could face prosecution. Further, the Bill will empower magistrates to take proactive steps.
“If a JMFC or metropolitan judge is satisfied that a child engagement in contravention of this Act has been arranged or is about to be performed, such magistrate shall issue an injunction against any person – including a member of an organisation or an association of persons – prohibiting such engagement,” it states.
Under the existing legal framework, punishment is mostly limited to those who carry out or assist in conducting a child marriage – usually the parents – and the marriage is declared null and void.
The proposed amendment significantly widens the scope of punishment. It aims to hold accountable not just those directly involved, but also anyone who facilitates or helps organise the marriage, including extended relatives, religious or community leaders, and others in the chain of preparation.
WHY THE SPIKE IN CHILD MARRIAGES
While the Karnataka government has made efforts – appointing child marriage prohibition officers (CMPO) and rolling out awareness campaigns – the ground reality, especially in more traditional and rural belts, remains grim.
Officials said long-held social customs and a lack of awareness remain among the biggest roadblocks. The Bill is expected to be presented during the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature.
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t…Read More
Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18’s digital platform. She has previously worked with t… Read More
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