Maharashtra High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to list the steps it has taken to prevent child marriage

The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered the Maharashtra government to prepare an affidavit outlining the actions it has taken to prevent child marriages in the state.

 

A division bench of Justices Amjad Sayed and Abhay Ahuja stated that there are few cases in the state involving child marriage offences.

 

The court was hearing public interest litigation (PIL) concerning child weddings in Maharashtra and the failure to enforce the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCA).

 

The Act forbids the solemnization of marriage between a boy under the age of 21 and a girl under the age of 18.

 

As per the petition, the Rules to be drafted under the Act are still in the works. The state government is required to file an affidavit. According to the court, the government must state what actions it has made on the matter in the affidavit.

 

According to Justice Sayed, there appear to be few cases registered (under the Act).

 

On June 13, the court will hear the plea again.

 

The petitioner’s lawyers, Asim Sarode and Ajinkya Udane told the court that around one lakh cases of child marriage occur in the state each year.

 

Certain procedures were proposed in the petition to ensure the successful execution of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.