Rajasthan swings into action to prevent child marriages
Lokpal Sethi
Dausa: Although child marriage is considered a serious offence, still hundreds of such marriages were solemnised on Wednesday, the Akshya Tritya day, considered most auspicious for marriages in the Gujjar-Meena dominated areas of Dausa, Karauli and Swaimadhopur.
However, alert authorities, prevented a large number of child marriages from taking place and have registered several cases under the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006.
At Sikandra, near here, acting on a tip-off, police stopped a marriage party, which had a child as a groom. A case was registered against the father of the child and the members of the marriage party.
It was also revealed that in a bid to avoid the police action, many families performed marriages of their teenaged children on Tuesday.
A fortnight ago, the State Government issued detailed instructions to the district authorities to keep a check on child marriages in their respective areas. MLAs, panchs and sarpanchas were asked to report if they came across any case of child marriage.
Under the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006, child marriage is considered a serious offence. In the earlier law only parents of the children were to attract punishment, but under the new act, even those who participate in such marriages, could also attract two-year jail term and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Dailypioneer.com, May 08, 2008 |
