'People don't believe that a 15-year-old girl subjected to sexual intercourse within a marriage is a victim of rape.'
Experts and global leaders have called on the United Nations to declare a dedicated 'World Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage', highlighting that a child marriage still occurs every three seconds globally.
A 21-year-old woman in Jodhpur has successfully annulled her child marriage, which took place when she was only 12 years old. The court emphasized the adverse impact of child marriage and the importance of eliminating the practice.
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.
Over 2019 to 2023 West Bengal and Jharkhand saw the share of girl child marriages in total weddings rise.
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.
The apex court termed the prevalence of "social evil" of child marriage as "sobering" and passed a slew of directions to the Centre, states, district administrations, panchayats and the judiciary to eradicate the malaise.
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 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.
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.
Rediff Labs analyzed the data on district wise child marriages in India by Census of India 2011.
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.
A non-profit organisation reports a rise in child abuse and gender-based violence cases across Pakistan in 2025, with Punjab province accounting for the majority of reported incidents.
At least 2,441 people have been arrested in the state till Monday in the continuing operation against child marriage, launched on February 3.
"There was a knock on the door around 2 am on Thursday. We opened the door and found policemen outside. They took away my husband," Nimee told PTI in a feeble voice, as her one-and-half-month-old son cried in her arms just as he was when his father was being arrested.
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 opposition has criticised the manner in which the drive against child marriage was being carried out, equating the police action with "terrorising people".
A Delhi court acquitted six individuals accused of kidnapping and forcing a minor girl into marriage, citing the prosecution's failure to prove the girl was taken from lawful guardianship or coerced into marriage.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim faces serious allegations from ex-wife Sannia Ashfaq after announcing his marriage to influencer Nyla Raja, triggering a public war of words on social media.
Sources said the panel has also recommended that boys and girls will have equal inheritance rights, registration of marriages will be made mandatory and the marriageable age for girls would be increased so that they can become graduates before marriage.
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.
A Delhi court has requested further information from the investigating officer in the child custody case involving Viktoriaa Basu, a Russian woman accused of illegally leaving India with her child.
13,660 km. 40 million Biharis participate in this year's 'world's longest' human chain.
A total of 2,241 arrests have been made so far in the state, based on 4,074 FIRs, as part of the crackdown launched four days ago.
West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya refutes Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims of the BJP bringing in outsiders to cause trouble, accusing her of desperation ahead of the assembly elections and highlighting alleged failures of the TMC government.
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.
Venu Muruvelil reports on the Outrage over thriving child marriages in Kerala as the state government looks the other way.
The government on Friday admitted that child marriages are prevalent across the country but they often went unregistered.
When Bangalore-based Arjun* agreed to an arranged marriage, he believed he had found the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. But a quiet conflict over religion at home soon began to test the relationship.
A 13-year-old tribal girl from Maharashtra's Palghar district was allegedly forcibly married off and raped, police said on Friday.
In case of such marriages being declared null and void, the legislation provides that the husband or if he is minor at the time of child marriage, his guardian would pay maintenance to the minor girl till her remarriage.
A Delhi court acquitted a man and his family of charges related to domestic cruelty and dowry death, citing text messages indicating the wife's history of suicidal tendencies.
A Delhi court has acquitted a man and his parents in a dowry death case, citing the prosecution's failure to establish allegations of cruelty or dowry harassment. The case involved the suicide of a woman within seven years of marriage, but key witnesses denied any dowry demands or harassment.
Singer-rapper Badshah is reportedly married to Punjabi actress Isha Rikhi, with photos from what appears to be their wedding ceremony circulating widely on social media.
Fairs are commonplace in the festive season but in tribal West Midnapore, which falls in the erstwhile Maoist-hit Jangalmahal area, it is child marriage fairs which are drawing large crowds.
'Our government is committed to addressing it firmly while protecting the rights of genuine citizens.'
The Maharashtra government has announced a flexible work time initiative for women state government employees working in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The 'Come Early, Go Early' initiative will allow women employees flexible reporting times and earlier departure times.
Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have earned the dubious distinction of being at the top two spots in the list of child marriages in the country accounting for 40 percent of such incidents in a single year.
'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.
The Supreme Court of India dissolved a marriage, instructing the couple to prioritize their child's well-being and set aside personal differences.
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