Bengaluru: As a first step to end child marriage practice in the state, the State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to accept the recommendations made by Justice Shivaraj V Patil committee to declare child marriages as null and void.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the Cabinet meeting said that the police can take suo motu action against those involved in conducting child marriage and fix minimum punishment of one-year rigorous imprisonment, as recommended by the Committee.
In the meeting it is also decided to recommend to the Union government to bring in necessary amendments to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, to give effect to the committee’s recommendations.
As per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which is a Central Act, all those child marriages conducted on and after the amendment to the Act will become nullified.
Currently, a child marriage can be nullified only if the child complains and seeks that the marriage be declared illegal. Therefore, the committee had recommended that the Act should be amended, declaring child marriage null and void.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to penalise the priests, the parents and the organisers of child marriage. The panel has also recommended punishment for elected representatives, including legislators, taking part in child marriages.
The State government had set up the core committee to recommend measures to be taken to prevent the practice of child marriage in the State.
