Law Commission Report No. 205- Proposal to Amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Other Allied Laws

8/18/2019 Law Commission Report No. 205- Proposal to Amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Other Allied …

1/49

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

LAW

COMMISSION

OF

INDIA

PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD

MARRIAGE ACT, 2006 AND OTHER ALLIED LAWS

Report No. 205

FEBRAR! 200"

1


2/49

THE LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA

#REPORT NO. 205$

PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD

MARRIAGE ACT, 2006 AND OTHER ALLIED LAWS

Pre%e&te' to t(e &)o& M)&)%ter *or L+ +&' -%t)/e, M)&)%tr o* L++&' -%t)/e, Go1er&e&t o* I&')+ 3 Dr. -%t)/e AR. L+4%(+&+&,

C(+)r+&, L+ Co)%%)o& o* I&')+, o& 5t( '+ o* Fe3r+r, 200".

2


3/49

T(e "t( L+ Co)%%)o& +% /o&%t)tte' *or + per)o' o* t(ree e+r%

*ro %t Septe3er, 2006 3 Or'er No. A.5027720068A'&.III #LA$,

'+te' t(e 6t( O/to3er, 2006 o* Go1er&e&t o* I&')+, M)&)%tr o* L+

+&' -%t)/e, Dep+rte&t o* Le9+: A**+)r%, Ne De:().

T(e L+ Co)%%)o& /o&%)%t% o* t(e C(+)r+&, t(e Me3er8Se/ret+r,

o&e *::8t)e e3er +&' %); p+rt8t)e e3er%.

C(+)r+&

T(e Ho&


4/49

Ne De:()80 00

L+ Co)%%)o& St+**

Re%e+r/( St+**

M%. P++& S(+r+ ? A'':. Go1er&e&t Co&%e:

S(r) -.T. S:+;+& R+o ? A'':. Go1er&e&t Co&%e:

S(r) S+r+& =+r ? Dept Go1er&e&t Co&%e:

S(r) A.=. p+'(+ ? A%%t. Go1er&e&t Co&%e:

Dr. V.=. S)&9( ? A%%t. Go1er&e&t Co&%e:

S(r) C. R+'(+ =r)+(&+ ? A%%t. Go1er&e&t Co&%e:

A')&)%tr+t)o& St+**

S(r) D. C(o'(r ? &'er Se/ret+r

S(r) S.=. B+% ? Se/t)o& O**)/er

S(r) N.S. N+9+r ? L)3r+r Co&%:t+&t

4


5/49

T(e te;t o* t()% Report )% +1+):+3:e o& t(e )&ter&et +t?

(ttp?77:+/o)%%)o&o*)&')+.&)/.)&

@ Go1er&e&t Copr)9(t 200"

L+ Co)%%)o& o* I&')+

Go1er&e&t o* I&')+

M)&)%tr o* L+ +&' -%t)/e

Dep+rte&t o* Le9+: A**+)r%

Ne De:()80 00

I&')+

T(e te;t )& t()% 'o/e&t #e;/:')&9 Go1er&e&t Lo9o%$ + 3e

repro'/e' *ree o* /(+r9e )& +& *or+t or e') pro1)'e' t(+t )t )%

repro'/e' +//r+te: +&' &ot %e' )& + )%:e+')&9 /o&te;t. T(e

+ter)+: %t 3e +/4&o:e'9e' +% Go1er&e&t /opr)9(t +&' t(e t)t:e

o* t(e 'o/e&t %pe/)*)e'.

A& e&)r)e% re:+t)&9 t()% Report %(o:' 3e +''re%%e' to t(e Me3er8

Se/ret+r, L+ Co)%%)o& o* I&')+, 2&' F:oor, ILI B):')&9,

B(+9+&'+% Ro+', Ne De:()8000, I&')+. F+;? 882"""0 or

E8M+): +t? 'r.'p%(+r+&)/.)&

5


6/49

Dr. Justice AR. Lakshmanan ILI Building (IInd Flr!"(Frmer Judge" #u$reme %urt & India! Bhag'andas Rad"

%hairman" La' %mmissin & India e' Delhi)11* **1 +el. , -1)11)23344/5 Fa0., -1)233354

DO No. 6(3)/117/2006-LC(LS) February 5, 2008

Dear Dr. Bhar!a" "#,

Sub$ %ro&o'a o *+e he %roh#b##o o Ch# arr#ae *,2006 oher a#e La!'

I am forwarding herewith the 205th Report of the Law Commission on“Child Marriage”.

The Supreme Court in rit !etition "Crl# $o. %&'200( had re)uestedthe assistan*e of the Law Commission on *ertain legal issues relating toChild Marriage+ and the different ages at whi*h a person is defined as a*hild in different laws. ,uring the penden*- of the rit !etition+howeer+ the !rohi/ition of Child Marriage *t+ 200( was ena*ted giing*ertain important rights to i*tims of *hild marriage and *hildren /ornfrom these marriages. The Commission too1 these *hanges into a**ountand further eamined whether the new *t addressed all the *on*ernsrelating to *hild a/use+ health and human rights+ whi*h are anineita/le *onse)uen*e of *hild marriage. Thereafter+ the Commissionforwarded its suggestions to the Supreme Court in ,e*em/er+ 2003.

The present report is diided into si *hapters. fter theintrodu*tion+ the 2nd *hapter deals with the salient features of the

!rohi/ition of Child Marriage *t+ 200(. Chapter 4 outlines the dataaaila/le on the in*iden*e of Child Marriage throughout the *ountr- andthe possi/le *auses for this. The *hapter deals+ in some detail+ a/outre*ent studies on the *onse)uen*es of Child Marriage. It notes thatChild Marriage stunts the growth and deelopment+ parti*ularl- of thegirl *hild who is the more ulnera/le partner. The report ta1es intoa**ount the fa*t that *hild marriage ma- often result in earl- pregnan*-and that *ompli*ations during *hild /irth and /oth maternal and infantmortalit- "/oth of the mother 6 *hild# are *ommon during *hild /irth for-oung pregnant girls. It further notes that *hild marriage results in*hild la/our at home and -oung girls hae er- little de*ision ma1ingpowers. Child marriage ma1es girls more ulnera/le to domesti* iolen*eand seual a/use. It also depries the girl *hild of her right too/tain edu*ation and lie a life of freedom 6 dignit-.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Re%)'e&/e, .1"Jan$ath" e' Delhi)11**11. +el.,-1)11)23*1-45.23/-34.23/-2/45 )mail,ch.lcs.nic.in


7/49

The report loo1s at the laws relating to *hild marriage fromarious *ountries and the International Coenants that mandate theeradi*ation of *hild marriage li1e C7, "The Conention 8n The7limination of ll 9orms of ,is*rimination gainst omen# and Conenantsli1e the CRC "Conention on the Rights 8f The Child#+ whi*h ma1es ito/ligator- for states to prote*t *hildren from all form for iolen*e anda/use and negle*t.

fter noting the *hanges to the Child Marriage Restraint *t+ &:2:with referen*e to the age of marriage and age of *onsent for seualinter; *ourseand irti Singh!art time mem/er and Ms !awan Sharma+ dditional ?oernment Counsel inpreparation of the final Report.

ith 1ind regards+

@ours Sin*erel-+

"Austi*e R La1shmanan#

,r. =.R. Bhardwa


8/49

LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA

PROPOSAL TO AMEND

THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006

AND OTHER ALLIED LAWS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ser)+: No. T)t:e

P+9e

. C(+pter I I&tro'/t)o& 8 5

2. C(+pter II M+)& Fe+tre% o* t(e Pro()3)t)o&

O* C():' M+rr)+9e A/t, 2006 6 8 "

. C(+pter III T(e S/ope, C+%e% +&'

Co&%ee&/e% o* C():' M+rr)+9e "

. C(+pter IV H+& R)9(t% +&' t(e Pro()3)t)o&

O* C():' M+rr)+9e A/t, 2006

Cr)t)/)% )& C(+pter 8 826

5. C(+pter V T(e C():' M+rr)+9e Re%tr+)&t

A/t, 2 Le9)%:+t)1e H)%tor,

-'9e&t%, +&' 1+r)o% Re/o8

e&'+t)o&% *or Ae&'e&t% o&

C():' M+rr)+9e +&' A9e o* C():' 286

6. C(+pter VI Co&/:%)o& +&' Re/oe&'+t)o&% 80

. B)3:)o9r+p( 8


9/49

CHAPTER I

I&tro'/t)o&

+he #u$reme %urt & India" in rit 6etitin (%riminal! . 1 &

2**" has re7uested the La' %mmissin t assist it 'ith certain issues

relating t child marriage. +he #u$reme %urt in its rder dated 2/.3.2**

has als nted that di&&erent la's s$eci&8 di&&erent ages 'hile de&ining a

child and there are 9arius cntradictins et'een these legislatins.

+he rit 6etitin" 'hich has een &iled 8 the Delhi #tate

%mmissin &r men and the atinal %mmissin &r men" $ints

ut that 'hile the 'rd" :child; is de&ined as an8 $ersn el' the age & 1

in the Indian


10/49

age. +he 6etitin sees this as a direct cntradictin t the %hild


11/49

It is $ertinent t $int ut that a&ter the rit 6etitin 'as &iled the

%hild


12/49

CHAPTER II

M+)& Fe+tre% o* t(e Pro()3)t)o& o* C():' M+rr)+9e A/t, 2006

+he ne' 6rhiitin & %hild


13/49

• +he same $unishment is als $rescried &r an8ne 'h

slemni?es a child marriage including 8 $rmting such a

marriage" $ermitting it t e slemni?ed r negligentl8 &ailing

t $re9ent the marriage. 'man can h'e9er e $unished

'ith im$risnment. +he Act als makes all &&ences

cgni?ale and nn)ailale.

• +he Act &urther all's &r in=unctins t $rhiit child

marriages including e0 $arte interim in=unctins. It states that

an8 child marriage slemni?ed in cntra9entin & an

in=unctin rder 'ill e 9id.

+he Act la8s em$hasis n the $rhiitin & child marriages 8

$r9iding &r the a$$intment & %hild 'e9er 'ithut the re7uired &inancial allcatins these C&&icers 'ill

$ral8 nt get a$$inted. +he Act gi9es the District


14/49

criminal la'" h'e9er" #ectin 3/5 I6% makes it a crime t ha9e a se0ual

relatinshi$ 'ith a child under 15 8ears & age. A cntradictin there&re

remains et'een the 6%


15/49

CHAPTER III?

T(e S/ope, C+%e% +&' Co&%ee&/e% o* C():' M+rr)+9e%

%hild marriages cntinue t e a &airl8 'ides$read scial e9il in

India. In a stud8 carried ut et'een the 8ears 1-- t 1--- n 'men aged

15)1- it 'as &und that 33.E 'ere currentl8 married r in a unin. 2 In

2*** the @ 6$ulatin Di9isin recrded that -.5E & 8s and 35./ E &

girls aged et'een 15)1- 'ere married. 3+his sh'ed that child marriage

'as &ar mre $re9alent amngst girls and this highlighted the gender

dimensin & the $rlem. +he atinal Famil8 >ealth #ur9e8 & 2**5)

2** (F>#)3! carried ut in t'ent8)nine states cn&irmed that 45E &

'men currentl8 aged 2*)24 8ears 'ere married e&re the age & eighteen

8ears. +he $ercentage 'as much higher in rural areas (5.5E! than in uran

areas (2/.-E! and e0ceeded 5*E in eight states. 4 +he $ercentage & 'men

aged 2*)24" married 8 the time the8 are 1" std at 1.2E in Jharkhand

&ll'ed 8 *.3 E in Bihar" 5/.1E in Ra=asthan" 54./E in A6" and 53E in

#)3 &acts and &igures mentined herea&ter ha9e all een retrie9ed&rm this 'esite! " 9isited n Ccter 2**/

15


16/49

'h 'ere married 8 age 1. +hugh F>#)3 did nt cm$ile data n girls

'h 'ere married el' the age & 15" the 2**1 %ensus & India5 had

re9ealed that 3**"*** girls under 15 had gi9en irth t at least ne child.

Further in a sur9e8 cnducted 8 the 9ernment & Ra=asthan in 1--3 it

'as &und that 5E girls had een &rced int marriage e&re the age & 15

and & these /E 'ere married e&re the8 'ere 1*. A secnd sur9e8

cnducted in 1-- in the #tate & industan +imes re$rted that 5/E & girls in India are

married && e&re the8 are 1 as $er the Internatinal %entre &r Research

n men.1*

5200( Cens"s of )ndia,'''.censusindia.g9.inG" 9isited n 9emer 2**/

@I%F 'esite n Married *doles+ents. %ited in @F6A. 2**4. %hild industan +imes dail8 n 2-..2**

1


17/49

+he $henmenn & child marriage can e attriuted t a 9ariet8 &

reasns. +he chie& amngst these reasns is $9ert8 and culture" traditin

and 9alues ased n $atriarchal nrms. +hese nrms d nt take int

accunt that :(i!n actualit8" child marriage is a 9ilatin & human rights"

cm$rmising the de9el$ment & girls and &ten resulting in earl8

$regnanc8 and scial islatin" 'ith little educatin and $r 9catinal

training rein&rcing the gendered nature & $9ert8.

ung married girls are a uni7ue" thugh &ten in9isile" gru$.

Re7uired t $er&rm hea98 amunts & dmestic 'rk" under $ressure t

demnstrate &ertilit8" and res$nsile &r raising children 'hile still children

themsel9es" married girls and child mthers &ace cnstrained decisin)

making and reduced li&e chices. B8s are als a&&ected 8 child marriage

ut the issue im$acts girls in &ar larger numers and 'ith mre intensit8K

here a girl li9es 'ith a man and takes n the rle & caregi9er &r him" the

assum$tin is &ten that she has ecme an adult 'man" e9en i& she has nt

8et reached the age & 1.; 11

+he marriage & a minr girl &ten takes $lace ecause & the $9ert8

and indetedness & her &amil8. D'r8 ecmes an additinal reasn" 'hich

'eighs e9en mre hea9il8 n $rer &amilies. +he general demand &r

8unger rides als creates an incenti9e &r these &amilies t marr8 the girl

child as earl8 as $ssile t a9id high d'r8 $a8ments &r lder girls.

+he girl in ur $atriarchal set u$ is elie9ed t e pari thepan

(smed8s $r$ert8! and a urden. +hese elie&s lead $arents t marr8 the

girl child. In ding s" the8 are & curse relie9ing themsel9es & the

11 +aken &rm @I%F ased 'esite"'''.childin&.rgareaschildmarriageG" 9isited n 9emer 2**/

1/


18/49

Murden & lking a&ter the child. +he girls are cnsidered t e a liailit8

as the8 are nt seen as indi9iduals 'h can cntriute $rducti9el8 t the

&amil8. @n&rtunatel8" the $atriarchal mindset is s strng that the girl has

n sa8 in decisin making. +e0ts like


19/49

de$ri9es the 8ung girl & ca$ailities" $$rtunities and decisin)making

$'ers and stands in the 'a8 & her scial and $ersnal de9el$ment.

ung rides &ace the risk & se0ual and re$rducti9e ill health

ecause & their e0$sure t earl8 se0ual acti9it8 and $regnanc8. +he F>#)2 had recrded that nl8 4E & married girls $racticed ga"na. It had

&urther een recrded that the $erid et'een marriage and ga"na had een

reduced t aut ne 8ear in mst cases. +he F>#)3 &igures sh' that the

$ractice has een &urther restricted t *./E married girls. %m$licatins

and mrtalit8 are cmmn during childirth &r 8ung $regnant girls. irls

'h cme &rm $r ackgrunds and 'h are &ten married at an earl8 age

ha9e little r n access t health care ser9ices. Risks assciated 'ith 8ung

$regnanc8 and childearing include :an increased risk & $remature laur"

cm$licatins during deli9er8" l' irth)'eight" and a higher chance that

the ne'rn 'ill nt sur9i9e.;15 ung mthers under age 15 are &i9e times

mre likel8 t die than 'men in their t'enties due t cm$licatins

including haemrrhage" se$sis" $reeclam$sia eclam$sia and structed

laur. 1


20/49

and disailities" 'hich usuall8 g untreated and sme & 'hich are

li&elng;.1- Research &urther indicates that the aies & mthers el' the

age & 1 tend t ha9e higher rates & child mridit8 and mrtalit8. :In&ants

& mthers aged 8unger than 1 8ears ha9e a * $er cent greater chance &

d8ing in the &irst 8ear & li&e than thse & mthers aged 1- 8ears r lder

O@I%F 2**/P.;2* Baies are rn $remature r under'eight r 8ung

mthers sim$l8 lack $arenting skills and decisin)making $'ers.21

#ecndl8" 8ung girls &ace the risk & in&ectin 'ith se0uall8

transmitted diseases including >I. ung rides 'h run a'a8 &rm earl8

marriages ma8 end u$ as se0 'rkers r e9entuall8 resrt t use se0 'rk as

a 'a8 & earning additinal incme.

ung rides als run the risk & catching diseases &rm their

res$ecti9e s$uses" as lder husands &ten engage in se0ual relatins 'ith

ther 'men utside the marriage. ung married girls d nt ha9e

argaining $'er in the marriage and there&re cannt negtiate sa&e se0

and are deemed 9ulnerale. It has als een &und that 8ung girls are

$h8silgicall8 mre $rne t cntracting >IAID#" as her 9agina is nt

'ell lined 'ith $rtecti9e cells and her cer9i0 ma8 e mre easil8 erded.

An anal8sis & the >I e$idemic sh's that :the $re9alence & >I

in&ectin is highest in 'men aged 15H24 and $eaks in men et'een &i9e t

ten 8ears later.;22

1- Black"


21/49

men e0$erience dmestic 9ilence &rm their s$uses and their

relati9es &r a 9ariet8 & reasns. +hese reasns include d'r8 and the 'i&e

nt eha9ing accrding t nrms set 8 the husand and his &amil8 'hich

are &ten $atriarchal in nature. A stud8 has sh'n that India has the highest

rate & :dmestic 9ilence amng 'men married 8 1 'ith a rate & /

$er cent" cm$ared t 45 $er cent & 'men 'h had nt e0$erienced

9ilence.;23 #ince an age ga$ et'een men and their 'i9es generall8 e0ists

and 7uite &ten men are much lder" the $'er d8namics et'een them can

e e0tremel8 une7ual. +he girl ecmes sciall8 islated and des nt ha9e

an8 decisin)making $'ers and cnsistentl8 &aces harassment &rm her

husand and in)la's. F>#)3 indicates that decisin)making $'er is

e0tremel8 limited &r married 'men in general as nl8 52.5E & currentl8

married 'men $artici$ate in husehld decisins. Furthermre ecause

8ung rides enter the marriage at an earl8 age" the8 d nt de9el$

$ersnal and scial skills that 'ill enale them t &end &r themsel9es. +he8

ecme ttall8 de$endent n their s$uses and are nt likel8 t lea9e a

9ilent marriage.

men als underg se0ual 9ilence in marriage and 8ung girls are

$articularl8 9ulnerale. In a stud8 carried ut in %alcutta in 1--/ 'here hal&

the 'men inter9ie'ed 'ere married at r el' the age & 15" 'ith the

8ungest eing married at / 8ears ld" &indings re9ealed that this age gru$

had :ne & the highest rates & 9ulnerailit8 t se0ual 9ilence in marriage"

secnd nl8 t thse 'hse d'r8 had nt een $aid.;24 +he 'men

23 @. %hildrens Fund (@I%F!. 5arly Marriage3 * armf"l Traditional Pra+ti+e, @I%F, Flrence(2**5!" $.22

24 #merset" %arrn" 5arly Marriage3 Whose Right to Choose; Frum n


22/49

inter9ie'ed said the8 had se0ual intercurse e&re menstruatin had

started" that se0 'as earl8 and 9er8 $ain&ul" and :man8 still cntinued t e

&rced int se0ual acti9it8 8 their husands.; 25Additinall8 the 8ung girls

:had made their husands a'are & their un'illingness t ha9e se0 r &

$ain during se0" ut in * $er cent & these cases the ra$es cntinued.;2

As husands are &ten much lder than their rides" girl rides are

likel8 t e 'id'ed at an earl8 age. A child ride 'h is 'id'ed can

su&&er discriminatin including lss & status and the8 are &ten denied

$r$ert8 rights" and ther rights. %hild 'id's ha9e little r n educatin r

ther skills t e ale t take care & themsel9es. At a 1--4 %n&erence in

Bangalre" India" $artici$ants tld & eing married at &i9e and si0 8ears ld"

'id'ed a &e' 8ears later" and re=ected 8 their in)la's and their 'n

&amilies. +hese 'id's are" 7uite sim$l8" le&t 'ith n resurces and

n'here t g. 2/

ung girls 'h are married earl8 usuall8 st$ ging t schl.

i9ing an educatin t a girl is $ercei9ed 8 th the girls and 8s&amilies unnecessar8 &r ecming a gd 'i&e r a mther" i& nt a

deterrent. +hse 'h ha9e a chice are e9entuall8 &rced t dr$ ut &

schl ecause the8 are &rced t assume the res$nsiilit8 & ding

dmestic chres and starting a &amil8 etc. arl8 marriage is &ten linked t

l' le9els & schling &r girls. F>#)3 &igures sh' that /1.E & Indian

'men currentl8 aged 2*)24 8ears" 'h had een married e&re the age &

25 Ct)C8rte8" aana" s"pra nte 21" $.21

2 Cuattara"


23/49

eighteen 8ears" did nt ha9e an8 educatin at all. Furthermre" 8 nt ging

t schl" 8ung rides are denied the $$rtunit8 t make &riendshi$s 'ith

$eers r ac7uire critical li&e skills.

It has een said that :(e!ducated 'men are mre likel8 t ha9e a sa8in decisin)making regarding the si?e & their &amilies and the s$acing &

their children. +he8 are als likel8 t e mre in&rmed and kn'ledgeale

aut cntrace$tin and the health care needs & their children.;2 #ince

married girls lea9e their hmes and &ten 9illages" t'ns" cities etc. the8

:tend t lse the clse &riendshi$s the8 had &rmed in their $arental hmes"

and &ten ecme 7uiet and sudued. +his means that e9en 'here girls ha9e

de9el$ed scial net'rks the8 are unale t access them.;2-

+he lss & adlescence" the &rced se0ual relatins" and the denial &

&reedm and $ersnal de9el$ment attendant n earl8 marriage ha9e

$r&und $s8chscial and emtinal cnse7uences. Researchers n child

marriage in Ra=asthan and


24/49

CHAPTER IV

H+& R)9(t% +&' t(e Pro()3)t)o& o* C():' M+rr)+9e A/t, 2006

%hild marriage is thus child ause and a 9ilatin & the human rights

& the child. It has an e0tremel8 deleterius e&&ect n the health and 'ell

eing & the child. It is a denial & childhd and adlescence it is a

curtailment & $ersnal &reedm and $$rtunit8 t de9el$ t a &ull sense

& sel&hd as 'ell as a denial & $s8ch)scial and emtinal 'ell eing

and it is a denial & re$rducti9e health and educatinal $$rtunities. +he

girl child is the mst a&&ected and su&&ers irre$arale damage t her $h8sical"

mental" $s8chlgical and emtinal de9el$ment.31

It is im$rtant there&re" t e0amine 'hether the ne' la' n child

marriage (6%


25/49

child marriage" u$ t t' 8ears &rm the earlier three mnths and the

increase in &ine u$ t ru$ees ne hundred thusand are als 'elcme

changes.

>'e9er" three im$rtant criticisms & the ne' Act ha9e een made

8 mens and >uman Rights ru$s and ther cncerned indi9iduals.

Cne & the main criticisms & the ne' Act has een that it des nt

in9alidate a marriage e9en el' a certain age. +hus a child & 1*"11"12 r

13 8ears & age can e married and su=ected t se0ual and ther &rms &

ause 'hich nrmall8 ha9e lasting and irre9ersile mental and $h8sical

cnse7uences.


26/49

& 23 8ears" a girl can nl8 d s till the age & 2* 8ears (2 8ears a&ter

reaching the age & ma=rit8!.

I& 'e e0amine the la's in di&&erent cuntries" 'e see that mst

cuntries an child marriages and $unish ra$e 'ithin and utside marriage.

>'e9er" child marriage cntinues t e $re9alent in mst & the

de9el$ing 'rld. In sme cuntries" thugh the legal age &r marriage is 1

8ears a $ersn ma8 e all'ed t marr8 e&re that age in e0ce$tinal

circumstances. Cther'ise the marriage is 9id. Fr instance" in Australia a

$ersn can a$$l8 t a =udge r magistrate &r an rder all'ing himher t

marr8 i& heshe has reached the age & 1 8ears. 33 >'e9er" 8 1--1 e9er8

state in Australia had alished the marital ra$e e0ce$tin.

In e' Tealand" a $ersn under 2* 8ears & age ut 9er 1 8ears ld

can nl8 marr8 'ith $arental cnsent. +he age & se0ual cnsent &r 'men

is als 1 8ears. 34 +here is n e0ce$tin &r marital ra$e in the %rimes Act"

1-1 & e' Tealand.35 +he marital ra$e e0em$tin 'as alished in

1-5.3

In the @" a marriage el' the age & 1 8ears is 9id.3/ +he alsuru8s La's & ngland" 4th dn. Reissue" l.2-(3! $.41

2


27/49

In g8$t" the age & ma=rit8 &r all legal $ur$ses e0ce$t marriage is

21 8ears. +he marriageale age is 1 &r males and 1 &r &emales.3 But

again the age & cnsent is di&&erent &rm marriageale age. +he age &r

gi9ing cnsent is 1 8ears3-

and the $enal cde sa8s that intercurse 'ith a

girl el' 1 8ears is ra$e.4*

In the @.#." di&&erent #tates ha9e di&&erent la's. +he legal age &r

marriage under mst & these la's is h'e9er 1 &r th males and

&emales. 41 >'e9er" in #tates like %ali&rnia a $ersn can marr8 el' that

age 'ith the $ermissin & $arents.42 +he marital ra$e e0ce$tin has een

alished in 5* #tates & the @#.43

In 6akistan under the indu (


28/49

1- &r 8s.45 +he age &r gi9ing a 9alid cnsent t a se0ual act is als set at

1 8ears &r a girl. An8 marriage el' the legal age is 9id.4

+he Dmestic ilence la' in Indnesia als $unishes a $ersn in the

husehld 'h &rces se0 n anther $ersn in the same husehld 'ith a

ma0imum sentence & 15 8ears.4/

+he detailing & la's &rm di&&erent cuntries there&re sh's that

arring a &e' cuntries" mst cuntries ha9e 1 as a minimum age &

marriage &r th 8s and girls. #me cuntries all' marriage el' the

age & 1 ut a9e the age & 1. +he age & cnsent t se0ual intercurse

is the same as the minimum r rela0ed age & marriage.

Internatinal %n9entins als su$$rt the $r$sitin that child

marriage shuld e eradicated. arius internatinal dies such as the

@I%F and the @nited atinal 6$ulatin Fund ha9e suggested that 1

shuld e cnsidered the minimum age & marriage.

+he %n9entin n the liminatin & All Frms & Discriminatin

Against men (%DA!" 'hich India has rati&ied" s$eci&icall8 addresses

age & marriage. Article 1(2! $r9ides that Zthe etrthal and the marriage

& a child shall ha9e n legal e&&ect" and all necessar8 actin" including

legislatin" shall e taken t s$eci&8 a minimum age &r marriage and t

make the registratin & marriages in an &&icial registr8 cm$ulsr8Z. +he

%mmittee that 9ersees the men[s %n9entin" has" h'e9er" issued its

inter$retatin & article 1(2! in the &rm & eneral Recmmendatin .

45Article 1" C58*W Indnesia %untr8 Re$rt (2/ Jul8 2**5!" $.5/

4 )id-, $.5

4/ Amnest8 Internatinal" )ndonesia3 5ploitation and a"se3 the plight of 9omen domesti+ 9orers(Re$rt!" AI Inde0, A#A 21**12**/" Feruar8 2**/" $.12.

2


29/49

21. entitled Z7ualit8 in marriage and &amil8 relatins.;4 +his

recmmendatin has als suggested that the age & marriage &r th men

and 'men shuld e 1. +he recmmendatin 7utes 'ith a$$r9al the

ienna Declaratin and 6rgramme & Actin ad$ted 8 the rld

%n&erence n >uman Rights" 1--3" that #tates are urged t re$eal e0isting

la's and regulatins and t rem9e custms and $ractices 'hich

discriminate against and cause harm t the girl child. It &urther states" :'hen

men and 'men marr8" the8 assume im$rtant res$nsiilities.

%nse7uentl8" marriage shuld nt e $ermitted e&re the8 ha9e attained

&ull maturit8 and ca$acit8 t act. Accrding t the rld >ealth

Crgani?atin" 'hen minrs" $articularl8 girls" marr8 and ha9e children" their

health can e ad9ersel8 a&&ected and their educatin is im$eded. As a result

their ecnmic autnm8 is restricted. +his nt nl8 a&&ects 'men

$ersnall8 ut als limits the de9el$ment & their skills and inde$endence

and reduces access t em$l8ment" there8 detrimentall8 a&&ecting their

&amilies and cmmunities.;

Further the %mmittee n the #tatus & men under %DA has

critici?ed the &act that certain cuntries ha9e di&&erent ages & marriage &r

8s and girls as &ll's,

:#me cuntries $r9ide &r di&&erent ages &r marriage &r men and

'men. As such $r9isins assume incrrectl8 that 'men ha9e a di&&erent

rate & intellectual de9el$ment &rm men" r that their stage & $h8sical and

intellectual de9el$ment at marriage is immaterial" these $r9isins shuld

e alished. In ther cuntries" the etrthal & girls r undertakings 8

4 +hugh India has made a reser9atin regarding Article 1(2! the reser9atin nl8 deals 'ith registratin& marriage and nt minimum & age & marriage. #ee %DA" 7eneral Re+ommendation 2(" @ ACR"1--4" Dc. . A4/3.

2-


30/49

&amil8 memers n their ehal& is $ermitted. #uch measures cntra9ene nt

nl8 the %n9entin" ut als a 'man[s right &reel8 t chse her $artner.;

arius Internatinal %n9entins ha9e em$hasi?ed the im$rtant $rinci$le

that marriage shuld e n the asis & e7ualit8 and 'ith the &ull and &ree

cnsent & the $arties. +he @ni9ersal Declaratin & >uman Rights"1-4

$r9ides that men and 'men are entitled t e7ual rights in marriage and

marriage reakd'n" and that th $tential s$uses shuld &reel8 and &ull8

cnsent t the marriage 9ide Article 1(2!.4- Accrdingl8" the 1-5

#u$$lementar8 %n9entin n the Alitin & #la9er8 and 6ractices

#imilar t #la9er8 cnsiders &rced marriage akin t sla9er8 OArticle 1(c!P.

+he 1-4 %n9entin n %nsent t igh%mmissiner &r >uman Rights 'esite" '''2.hchr.rgenglishla'cc$r.htmG" 9isited n Decemer 2**/

3*


31/49

maltreatment and e0$litatin" including se0ual e0$litatin. +his ine9ital8

ha$$ens in the case & a girl child 'hen she is married 'hile still a child.

31


32/49

CHAPTER V

T(e C():' M+rr)+9e Re%tr+)&t A/t, 2? Le9)%:+t)1e H)%tor,

-'9e&t%, +&' 1+r)o% Re/oe&'+t)o&% *or Ae&'e&t% o& C():'

M+rr)+9e +&' A9e o* C():'

+he %hild


33/49

1* 1* 8ears 1* 8ears ))

1-1 (Act1* & 1-1!a&ter theamendment& I.6.%.!

12 8ears 12 8ears ))

1-25 (a&ter theamendment& I.6.%.!

14 8ears 13 8ears ))

1-2- (a&ter the $assing

& the %hild


34/49

numer & cases & child marriage 'hich are ccurring in the cuntr8.


35/49

@nder the ld %


36/49

in and aetting a child marriage guilt8 and $r9ides harsher $unishment"

=udicial attitudes 'ill als ha9e t change and see the issue & child marriage

&rm the $int & 9ie' & the girl child. Further it has een &und that there

is a cm$lete lack & a'areness & the la' relating t child marriage. It is

there&re" e0tremel8 im$rtant &r the g9ernment t $ulici?e the cntents

& the $resent Act and create a'areness aut the ills & child marriage.

%nse7uent changes 'ill als ha9e t e made in +he >indu indu


37/49

Renunciates & 6ndicherr8 are g9erned 8 the French %i9il %de"

%ha$ter I" Article 144 & the French %i9il %de $r9ides that a man cannt

cntract a marriage e&re he has cm$leted 1 8ears and a 'man till she

has cm$leted 15 8ears & age.

+he a9e stud8 makes it clear that under Indian la's" the minimum

age &r marriage is $rescried as 21 8ears &r males and 1 8ears &r

&emales. In s$ite & these legal $r9isins" child marriage is still 'idel8

$racticed and a marriage slemni?ed in cntra9entin & these $r9isins is

nt 9id e9en under the ne' 6%indu 'e9er" here als the la' makes a distinctin et'een a

'i&e el' 12 and a 'i&e 9er 12. @nder #ectin 3/ 'hen the 'i&e is

el' 12" the $enalt8 is se9ere" i.e. im$risnment & either descri$tin &r a

term" 'hich shall nt e less than se9en 8ears ut 'hich ma8 e &r li&e r

&r a term 'hich ma8 e0tend t 1* 8ears and &ine. I&" h'e9er" the 'i&e is

nt under 12" i.e. she is a9e 12 ut el' 15" the $unishment is milder i.e.

im$risnment & either descri$tin &r a term 'hich ma8 e0tend t t'

8ears r &ine r th.

+he 4th Re$rt & the La' %mmissin had recmmended an

increase in the minimum age & cnsent and the minimum age in the

0ce$tin %lause. +he %mmissin had recmmended as &ll's,

:2.2*. +he 7uestin t e cnsidered is 'hether the age shuld e

increased t 1 8ears. +he minimum age & marriage n' laid d'n

8 la' (a&ter 1-/! is 1 8ears in the case & &emales and the rele9ant

clause & sectin 3/5 shuld re&lect this changed attitude. #ince

3/


38/49

marriage 'ith a girl el' 1 8ears is $rhiited (thugh it is nt

9id as a matter & $ersnal la'!" se0ual intercurse 'ith a girl el'

1 8ears shuld als e $rhiited.;

+he la's relating t ra$e 'ere again cnsidered 8 the La'

%mmissin in its 1/2nd Re$rt n :Re9ie' & Ra$e La's; (2***!. +he

La' %mmissin e&re sumitting its Re$rt circulated a dra&t & $r$sed

changes. +he atinal %mmissin &r men sumitted its

recmmendatins n the Dra&t. In res$ect & $r9isin relating t se0ual

intercurse 'ith nes 'n 'i&e" the % suggested that :marital se0ual

intercurse 8 a man 'ith his 'n 'i&e 'ithut cnsent shuld als e

cnsidered as se0ual assault.;/2 %ertain mens ru$s including the All

India Demcratic mens Assciatin and #akshi had als recmmended

that marital ra$e e recgni?ed as ra$e. +hugh the La' %mmissin did

nt agree 'ith this suggestin it recmmended that the age & cnsent &r

th unmarried and married 'men shuld e 1 8ears" el' 'hich se0ual

intercurse shuld e cnsidered ra$e and $unished accrdingl8.

+he atinal %mmissin &r men in its re$rt in 1--5)- had

recmmended that child marriages e declared 9id. It had &urther

recmmended that there shuld e cm$ulsr8 registratin & marriages and

em$hasi?ed n &ree and cm$ulsr8 educatin till the age & 14. +he

%mmissin &elt that all these ste$s culd $la8 an im$rtant $art in checking

child marriages.

+he %entral 9ernment a&ter cnsulting the #tate 9ernments

intrduced the 6re9entin & %hild


39/49

+he %mmittee has $r$sed a cmmn marriageale age &r th the se0es

i.e." 1 8ears s as t a9id an8 serius cnse7uences t the indi9idual and

the sciet8 as a 'hle. +he %mmittee has &urther recmmended that child

marriage shuld e 9id a initi and nt 9idale at the $tin & either

cntracting $art8 kee$ing in 9ie' the inhiitins that $arties ha9e against

curt $rceedings. +he %mmittee has &urther recmmended initiating

scial measures such as creatin & rehailitatin &und &r $r9iding shelter"

&d" educatin" health and securit8 &r the 9ictims & child marriages and

als recmmended acti9e su$$rt and crdinatin & &&icials &

6ancha8at" +ehsil" District and #tate le9els" Cs "and scial gru$s and

agencies.

Anther recmmendatin made 8 the %mmittee 'as that the

$unishment laid d'n in the >indu


40/49

the #tate 9ernments 'h had nt 8et $assed Acts &r this $ur$se. +he

#tates 'ere &urther asked t in9ite =ectins &rm the $ulic and make

registratin & marriages cm$ulsr8 &r all citi?ens regardless &

cmmunit8/4

'ithin three mnths & its rder dated 1-.12.2**/.+he third issue raised 8 the $etitiner is t make a uni&rm de&initin &

Mchild in all legislatins in cn&rmit8 'ith the %n9entin n the Rights &

the %hild. #ince di&&erent legislatins ha9e cme int e0istence 'ith

di&&erent and s$eci&ic $ur$ses" a uni&rm de&initin & a child ma8 nt e

$ssile. Fr instance" the age & cnsent &r se0ual intercurse 'uld e

l'er than 1 ecause cnsensual se0 a9e the age & 1 is &airl8

'ides$read and rutine. #imilarl8 the =ect ehind the %hild Laur

(6rhiitin X Regulatin! Act" 1- is t an child laur cm$letel8

el' the age & 14 and regulate it a9e that age and there&re the

de&initin & a child is in tune 'ith these =ecti9es.

9er8 la' $r9ides its 'n de&initin & the term Mchild. #me re&er

t a child as a $ersn 'h has nt cm$leted the age & 1 8ears and in

sme statutes a child is de&ined as a $ersn el' 1 8ears and in ther

statutes it is 14 8ears. #me & such statutes are as under,

1. As $er the %hild


41/49

$ersn 'h has cm$leted the age & 1 8ears ut has nt cm$leted the

age & 1 8ears.

3. A $ersn is deemed t ha9e the ma=rit8 n cm$letin & 1 8ears

under the Indian


42/49

CHAPTER VI

CONCLSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

An increasing numer & studies ha9e highlighted the e0tremel8

harm&ul and traumatic e&&ects & child marriage. %hild marriage el' a

certain age is latant child ause. +he Indian 6enal %de cnsiders an8

se0ual intercurse 'ith a minr 'i&e el' 15 8ears & age ra$e. +he case& 6hulmnee/5 'hich gal9ani?ed $ulic $inin against child marriage in

the last centur8 "and &r raising the age & cnsent" 'as a case in 'hich a

girl aged 11 8ears died & hemrrhage &rm a ru$ture & 9agina caused 8

her husand 'h had &rced se0 n her. >'e9er" e9en the $resent la' n

child marriage des nt address a situatin like 6hulmnees. +here is n

$r9isin in the la' t st$ a child ride &rm li9ing 'ith her husand and

&rm eing se0uall8 aused a$art &rm ther &rms & ause. +he %hild


43/49

ad9erse e&&ects & child marriage 9is)S)9is the girl child 'uld e t ignre

the manner in 'hich the child ride e0$eriences li&e and 'uld amunt t a

denial & the &act that girls are human eings and ha9e certain &undamental

rights including the right t li&e. +he ad9erse health cnse7uences and the

9ilence &aced 8 the girl child el' a certain age are &actrs 'hich

ut'eigh certain Mscial cnsideratins in nt in9alidating the marriage.

e &urther &eel that there is n ratinale &r sti$ulating di&&erent ages

&r cnsent t se0ual intercurse &r a minr ride and &r ther minr girls.

+he ratinale ehind the minimum age & cnsent is that the girl is nt

mature enugh t kn' the cnse7uences & se0ual intercurse and thisratinale 'uld e the same &r a minr ride and ther minr girls. e

there&re" recmmend the &ll'ing.

i! +hat child marriage el' a certain age" ie. 1 8ears & age e

made 9id. >'e9er" all the #ectins relating t maintenance in

#ectin 4 & the 6%


44/49

%nse7uentl8 #ectin 3(1! and 3(3! & the 6%


45/49

9! +he age & marriage &r th 8s and girls shuld e 1 8ears as

there is n scienti&ic reasn 'h8 this shuld e di&&erent.

%nse7uentl8 the $resent #ectin 2(a! & the 6%indu


46/49

Amnest8 Internatinal" )ndonesia3 5ploitation and a"se3 the plight of 9omendomesti+ 9orers (Re$rt!" AI Inde0, A#A 21**12**/" Feruar8 2**/

Australia


47/49

)nternational Covenant on Civil and Politi+al Rights a9ailale n the C&&ice & the@nited atins >igh %mmissiner &r >uman Rights 'esite"'''2.hchr.rgenglishla'cc$r.htmG

)nternational Covenant on 5+onomi+, !o+ial and C"lt"ral Rights a9ailale n theC&&ice & the @nited atins >igh %mmissiner &r >uman Rights 'esite"'''2.hchr.rgenglishla'cescr.htmG

Marriage *+t (.4." als"r"y1s >a9s of 5ngland " 4th dn.Reissue" l.2-(3!

Marriage *+t (.##, & e' Tealand a9ailale at '''.legislatin.g9t.n?G

#)2!"

National Family ealth !"rvey of 200#$200% &NF!$'!

Ct)C8rte8" aana and #nita 6i" 5arly Marriage and Poverty3 5ploring lins

for poli+y and programme development, +he Frum n


48/49

Lk #aha n 2-th 9emer" 2**5!" e' Delhi" 9emer 2**5 Agraha8ana" 1-2/(#aka!

Ram, F., R.K. Sinha, S.K. Mohanty et al. 2006. Marriage and Motherhood: AnExploratory Study of the Social and Reproductive Health Status of Married Young

women in Guarat and !est "engal# $ndia. New Delhi: Population Council.

#agade" Ja8a" Child Marriage in )ndia" C0&rd @ni9ersit8 6ress" 2**5

#anth8a" .. and #hireen J. Je=eeh8 $a$er, o"ng People1s se"al and reprod"+tive ealth in )ndia3 Poli+ies, programmes and realities" 6$ulatin %uncilreginal 'rking $a$ers .1-" e' Delhi" 2**/

#ethuraman" a9ita and ata Du99ur8" The Ne"s of 7ender 8is+rimination 9ith Maln"trition3 *n )ntrod"+tion" cnmic and 6litical eekl8" l NLII 44 9emer 3)-" 2**/

#ingh" irti and Di9i8a a$ur , >a9, Aiolen+e and the 7irl Child " >eath and >umanRights and" An Internatinal Jurnal" l 5. .2 " 2**1

#merset" %arrn" 5arly Marriage3 Whose Right to Choose; Frum n


49/49

@ondep"di !riramam"rthi v- !tate of *ndhra Pradesh and another " AIR 1-* Andhra

6radesh 3*2

@h"shal+hand ani Prasad v- !hanar Pandey 7aya Prasad " AIR 1-3 LR 4

E"eens 5mpress v- "ree Mohan Mythee NIII Indian La' Re$rter (%alcutta! 4-

(1-1!

Raindra Prasad v- !ita 8ass, AIR 1- 6at 12

Ravi @"mar v- The !tate *nr-, ila 7"pta v- >ami Narain and others, 1-/ #%% (3! 25

!mt- !eema As- *sh9ani @"mar, 2**/(12! #cale 5/

William Reello v- *ngelo Aa=, AIR 1-- Bm 2*4

Documents

Law Commission Report No. 205- Proposal to Amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Other Allied Laws