The administration in Maharashtra's Nanded district has prevented 36 child marriages in the past month through counselling, awareness efforts, and on-ground verification.
Authorities in Beed, Maharashtra, intervened to prevent the marriage of a 17-year-old girl to a 28-year-old man, leading to the registration of a case against the groom and family members under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
A child marriage case in Maharashtra's Beed district has come to light after a minor girl suffered a miscarriage and was admitted to hospital, leading to a police investigation and charges against her husband, in-laws, and parents.
Authorities in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district intervened to stop a marriage between a 13-year-old girl and a 42-year-old man, after discovering a fake marksheet was used to falsely claim the girl was of legal marriageable age.
Police in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, are investigating a case of alleged child marriage and sexual exploitation after hospital staff raised concerns during a medical examination of two girls.
Police in Indore have registered a case against 13 people, including the groom, after a 13-year-old girl was allegedly married off despite warnings from the local administration. The marriage occurred after an exchange agreement between families.
'People don't believe that a 15-year-old girl subjected to sexual intercourse within a marriage is a victim of rape.'
Over 2019 to 2023 West Bengal and Jharkhand saw the share of girl child marriages in total weddings rise.
The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is recommending that the state government mandate the inclusion of the bride and groom's date of birth on wedding invitations to combat child marriages.
A woman in Jodhpur, India, successfully annulled her child marriage through a court battle, highlighting the ongoing issue of child marriage and the importance of legal intervention and social support.
An eight-year-old boy's timely intervention helped prevent the child marriage of his friend from Class 5, scheduled on the night of Akshaya Tritiya, highlighting both the persistence of the social evil and the strength of awareness among children.
The Supreme Court on Friday held that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act cannot be stunted by personal laws and that marriages involving children violate the free will to have a life partner of choice.
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that Muslim personal law, which recognises puberty as the age of marriage, cannot override the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which criminalise sexual relations with a child.
The Bihar government has formed a state-level task force to monitor actions taken by authorities to prevent and eradicate child marriages in the state. Bihar has the second-highest rate of child marriage in India, with 40.8% of women getting married before turning 18. The government is implementing a multipronged strategy to combat child marriage, including stricter enforcement of the law, empowering girls through education, and raising awareness.
Under the title of "legal enforcement", states and Union Territories were directed to appoint officers solely responsible for discharging the functions of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers at the district level.
A woman in Jodhpur, India, successfully annulled her marriage, which was solemnised when she was 12 years old, after a court battle, highlighting the ongoing issue of child marriage and the importance of legal intervention.
The Rajasthan High Court overturned a family court's decision, granting a woman a divorce and strongly criticising the 'Aata-Sata' marriage custom, highlighting the need to assess matrimonial disputes based on the 'preponderance of probabilities' rather than criminal law standards.
At least 2,441 people have been arrested in the state till Monday in the continuing operation against child marriage, launched on February 3.
Amid protests in Barak Valley, Morigaon and Dhubri, the crackdown on child marriage in Assam entered the fourth day on Monday, with the number of arrests rising to 2,441.
The decision to repeal the Act was taken at a late-night cabinet meeting on Friday as it is an obsolete pre-Independence Act of the British for the then province of Assam, the CM said.
Do not push your children into situations that leave them feeling trapped or desperate, appeals rediffGURU Anu Krishna.
The court also rapped the Assam government for slapping stringent laws like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) and rape charges on child marriage accused.
The opposition has criticised the manner in which the drive against child marriage was being carried out, equating the police action with "terrorising people".
Venu Muruvelil reports on the Outrage over thriving child marriages in Kerala as the state government looks the other way.
As the police said they have a list of 8,000 accused and the drive will continue, women protested against the move in various districts saying they will face problems without livelihoods.
The Rajasthan High Court has overturned a family court's decision and granted a divorce to a woman, criticising the 'Aata-Sata' marriage custom and stating that cruelty in matrimonial disputes does not require proof 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
13,660 km. 40 million Biharis participate in this year's 'world's longest' human chain.
The Kerala High Court has vacated its order for police protection to a young woman, who gained fame during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, after police reported they could not trace her. Her husband faces kidnapping charges, as her family claims she is a minor and opposed their marriage. The court stated protection would be provided if she approaches them.
The Kerala High Court has intervened to protect a young woman, known as the 'Kumbh Mela girl', from being transferred to Madhya Pradesh police without its order, despite a directive from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
Members of the Congress and AIUDF, protesting against a Cabinet decision to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, staged walkouts later.
Justices Urmila Joshi Phalke and Nandesh Deshpande of the HC's Nagpur bench, in the order passed on September 26, refused to accept the man's contention that he was in a consensual relationship with the 17-year-old girl and had registered the marriage only when she turned 18.
A 13-year-old tribal girl from Maharashtra's Palghar district was allegedly forcibly married off and raped, police said on Friday.
The opposition parties, including Congress, Raijor Dal and Trinamool Congress, opposed the move and demanded wider consultation with all the stakeholders before its introduction.
A Delhi court has acquitted Anil Kumar in a dowry death case, stating that the prosecution failed to prove dowry-related cruelty or harassment "soon before her death." The court found allegations to be general and noted that the deceased's family did not support the prosecution's case, with her mother attributing her mental state to the death of her child. The court emphasised that suspicion alone is not proof and that an alternative explanation for the death existed.
The Supreme Court of India dissolved a marriage, instructing the couple to prioritize their child's well-being and set aside personal differences.
'I watched Balika Vadhu with my mother and wondered what it is like for young girls who find themselves trapped in this situation. I think parents should first educate their children, help them to build a career and then get them married.' Gracy Goswami, all of 11, takes a mature stand on child marriage.
Bihar leads the pack with more than 30,000 girls below the age of 15 years married off that year, according to census figures released on Thursday.
According to the latest NCRB data, close acquaintances are the primary offenders in 96.6 per cent of child sexual abuse cases in India. The report highlights the involvement of family members, friends, and online contacts in these offences, with Tamil Nadu reporting the highest number of cases.
The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government to assess the well-being of a child in a disputed paternity case, ensuring access to basic necessities and a minimum standard of living.
A 14-year-old girl from Maharashtra's Palghar district has alleged that she was forcibly married to a man, sexually assaulted and made to undergo an abortion, police said on Tuesday.
