HISTORYiRESEARCHiWORKiONiCHILDiMARRIAGESiINiINDIA

SUBMITTEDiTO-iDR.iNAZIMAiMUNSHI

SUBMITTEDiBY:iSANKALPiSRIVASTAVA

ROLLNO.-B024ii

FYBALLBi[DIViB]iSEM.i2

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HISTORYiOFiCHILDiMARRIAGEiINiINDIA

InitheiearliestiknownihistoryiofiIndiaifromi200iBCitoi700iAD,iyoungiwomeniandimenirejoicedi
ailiberaliconceptiofiloveianditheyihaditheifreedomitoichooseiaipartneriandienteriintoiromanticire
lationshipsiwithieachiotheriwithoutianyifeariofiscandal.iHowever,ifromiMiddleiAge,iasistatesian
digovernmentideveloped,itheipoliticalisystemielaboratediandimodifieditheiIndianisocietyigradua
lly.iItitransformeditheilifestyleiandiopinioniofiitsipeopleifromiaisimpleitoimoreicomplexiform,ir
estrictingisignificantlyitheinotioniofiliberty.iWomenilostitheirirightsiandihaditoiobeyirulesiandir
espectitheicodeibeibehaviour.iTheyiwereinowisubjectitoifamilyidisciplineianditheihonouriofithei
riclan.iSinceiyoungiwomeniwereiconsiderediirresponsibleiandiirrationaliinilove,iparentsimarried
ithemiearlyibeforeitheyigoticaughtiintoianyiscandal.iThough,iageiatiwhichitheigirliwasitoibeima
rriedidifferediandiitiwasirareiforigirlsiyoungerithani12itoibeimarriediiniantiquity.iNevertheless,i
girlibridesibecameiyoungeritowardsitheiMedievaliperiod,iandiitibecameiincreasinglyicommonif
origirlsiasiyoungiasisixiorieightitoibeimarriediasiIndianisociety.iTheiprimeiconcerniofinegotiatin
githeimarriageiwasitoifindioutitheicompatibilityibetweenitheitwoifamilies.iItiwasibelievedidurin
githoseitimesithatiifitwoipersonsiknowieachiotherirightifromichildhoodiitienhancediunderstandi
ngiandiaffection.iHence,iparentsidecidedionitheimarriagesiofitheirichildreniatiaiveryiearlyiageial
thoughitheidaughteristayediwithiheriparentsiuntilisheiattaineditheiageiofipuberty

Indianisocietyiisihistoricallyibasedioniaipatriarchy,iandithisigenderiinequalityistilliexists.iAiwo
man’siprimaryiroleiinisocietyiisisupposeditoibeiherirelationitoimeni(daughter,iwife,imother,ietc.
)iTheiriprimaryiaspirationiinilifeiisidesignatediasimarriage.iAsiairesultiofitheseisexistiexpectatio
ns,iyoungigirlsienteringiaimarriageiareiexpecteditoiputitheirihusband’siandifather’siwishesibefor
eiheriownidesiresiandidiscomfort.iGirlsiareirarelyigivenitheivoiceioriopportunityitoiprotestianiar
rangedimarriage.iiAsiiniallipatriarchies,iaiman’siworthirevolvesiaroundihisimasculinity,iwhichii
nvolvesihisiabilityitoicontroliwomen,iparticularlyihisiwifeiandidaughters.iUntilimarriage,iaidaug
hter’sichastityiandiprotectioniisiaideterminantiofiherifather’sihonoriandimasculinity.iFailingitoih
aveiai“pure”idaughterishamesiherifatheriandicanieveniresultiiniexclusionifromicommunity.iThis
icanimotivateimenitoimarryitheiridaughter’sioffiearlyiiniorderitoitransferithisiresponsibilityitoith
eirinewison-in- lawiandihisifamily.

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COMPARATIVEiSTUDYiWITHi–iSOUTHiAFRICA

INTRODUCTION

Theiglobalicampaign,iledibyitheiconsortiumiGirlsiNotiBridesianditheiAfricaniUnioniCampaigni
toiEndiChildiMarriage,ihasiputichildimarriageiiniAfricaiinitheispotlight.iGirlsiNotiBridesiestima
tesithati15iofithei20icountriesiwithitheihighestiratesiofichildimarriagesiinitheiworldicomeifromi
Africa.iInisub-
SaharaniAfricaiitiisiestimatedithati39ipericentiofigirlsiareimarriedibeforeitheiri18thibirthday;iwh
ilei13ipercentiareimarriedibyitheiri15thibirthday.iChildibridesiareimostilikelyitoibeifoundiinirur
aliareas,iamongitheipoorestiandimostiilliterateisegmentsiofitheipopulation.iAmongiotherifactors,
ichildimarriageiiniAfricaihasibeenilinkeditoiharmfulipracticesi(toibeidiscussedilater)ithatiareiem
beddediiniculture.iThisiisicompoundedibyitheifactithatiinimanyiAfricanicommunitiesidriftingifr
omitraditionicouldimeaniexclusionifromitheicommunity.iLawireformitoiendichildimarriage,ither
efore,iisiaidifficultitaskisinceiitipresentsiaipotentialiconflictibetweenichildren'sirightsiandicultura
lirights.iAccordingitoitheiUnitediNationsiChildren'siFundi(UNICEF),itheifastestiprogressiinired
ucingichildimarriageiiniAfricaihasibeeniinitheinortherniregion,iwithiSoutherniAfricailaggingibe
hind.iYet,ialliSoutherniAfricanicountriesiareistateipartiesitoitheimajoriinternationaliandiregional
iinstrumentsithaticondemnichildimarriage.

Againstithisibackground,iainumberiofiSoutherniAfricanicountriesihaveirecentlyidevelopedinatio
naliinitiativesiaimediatiendingichildimarriages.iForiexample,iini2015itheiConstitutionaliCourtiin
iZimbabweioutlawedichildimarriagesiconcludediunderianyilaw.iInitheisameiyear,iSouthiAfrica,i
throughitheiSouthiAfricaniLawiReformiCommission,iproposedicriminalisingibothiforcediandich
ildimarriagesiasiairesultiof,iamongiothers,iharmfuliculturalipractices.iiMuchimoreirecently,iini2
017,iMalawiiamendediitsiconstitutionaliprovisioniandiunequivocallyisetitheimarriageableiageiof
ibothiwomeniandimeniati18iyears.

IniviewiofitheseiinitiativesithisiarticleiexaminesihowitheiselectedicountryiSouthiAfricaiiseeksito
iaddressitheiconflictibetweeniculturalipracticesithatileaditoichildimarriageianditheiprotectioniofi
children'sirights.iItialsoihighlightsibothitheitheoreticalianditheipracticaliproblemsithatilawirefor

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mersifaceiiniregulatingiculturalipractices,iasiwelliasitheigapsiinitheireformsithatineeditoibeiaddr
essed.

CURRENTiSCENARIOiOFiCHILDiMARRIAGEiINiINDIA

iUNICEFiihadireleasediaireportistatingithatitheinumberiofigirlsigettingimarriediiniIndiaihadihal
ved.iDespiteithisidrop,inearlyi1.5imillionigirlsiiniIndiaigetimarriedibeforeitheyiturni18.iChildim
arriageiremainsiaisocialievilithatiIndiaihasiseeminglyihadiaiharditimeieradicating.

TheilegaliageiofimarriageiiniIndiaiisi18iforiwomeniandi21iforimen.iLastiyearitheiSupremeiCour
tiruledithatisexiwithianiunderageiwifeiconstitutedirape.Certainiinfluentialipoliticiansiandilawma
kersiiniMadhyaiPradeshicontinueitoicondoneiandisupportisuchitheiperniciousipracticeiofichildi
marriage.

AtioneimassiweddingiceremonyiinitheiBiaoraiKalanivillage,iapproximatelyi69icouples,ilargelyi
withinitheiageibracketiofi12-16,igotimarried.

Whatiwasievenimoreishockingiwasitheipresenceiofileadersifromibothitheirulingiandioppositioni
partiesiatitheseimassiweddingiceremonies.iTheseileadersireportedlyieveniblesseditheicouples.iT
heidistrictiadministrationiestimatesithatinearlyi1000iminoricouplesiwereimarriedioff.

Makingimatteriworse,inoicallsitoireportiandipreventichildimarriagesiwereimadeitoitheihelplinein
umberiissuedibyitheiStateiwomeniandichildidevelopmentidepartmentiinitheidistrict.iLocalipolice
iandiadministratorsiassertithatieveniifitheyistopiaimarriage,itheiparentsioftenitakeitheichildrenia
wayitoianotheriplaceiandimarryithemioff.iTheipracticeireportedlyihasitheipatronageiofiinfluentia
lipoliticiansiinitheidistrict.

Theiideaiofilawmakersioripotentialilegislatorsisupportingisuchiaibrazeniviolationiofitheilawiandi
goiagainstiaichild’siinterestsiisishocking.

GoingibyitheiNationaliFamilyiHealthiSurvey-4istatistics,inearlyihalfitheiwomenibetweeni20-
24iyearsiofiageigetimarriedibeforeitheiageiofi18i(ageioficonsent)iiniRajgarhidistrict.iMoreithani

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60%iofitheimenibetweeni25iandi29iyearsiofiageigetimarriedibeforeitheiageiofi21,iwhileinearlyi
7%iofiwomenibetweeni15-19ibecomeimothersiorigetipregnant.

Eveniwithitheseistatisticsiinitheipublicidomain,itheiadministrationiseemsihelplessiinidealingiwit
hitheisituationionitheiground.

Goodinews,ihowever,icameifromiBhopaliwhereitheilocalipoliceipreventedithreeichildimarriagesi
thanksitoitheihelplineisetiupibyitheiStateigovernment.iHoweverifaint,ithisiisistilliaisilverilining.

“Wheniaigirliisiforceditoimarryiasiaichild,isheifacesiimmediateiandilifelongiconsequences.iHeri
oddsiofifinishingischoolidecreaseiwhileiherioddsiofibeingiabusedibyiherihusbandiandisufferingi
complicationsiduringipregnancyiincrease.iThereiareialsoihugeisocietaliconsequencesiandiaihigh
eririskiofiintergenerationalicyclesiofipoverty,”isaidiAnjuiMalhotra,iUNICEF’siPrincipaliGenderi
Advisor,iiniaistatementireleasedibyitheiagencyilastimonth.iChildimarriagesihaveialsoibeeniaimaj
oridriveriiniincreasingitheifrequencyiofiHIV/AIDS,idelicateipregnancies,iandiotherisuchihealthii
mplications.

UnderitheiProhibitioniofiChildiMarriageiActi(PCMA),i2006,itheimarriageibetweeniaimaniabove
i18iyearsiofiageiwithiaiwomanibelowi18iyearsiofiage,iisipunishableiwithiimprisonmentiofitwoiy
ears,iaifineiofiupitoiRsi1,00,000,ioriboth.i

Ifitheimaleiisianiadultianditheibrideiisiaiminor;itheiformericanibeiprosecuted.iParentsioriguardia
nsiencouraging,iorganising,iabetting,iforcing,iconductingiandieveniattendingitheseiweddingicere
moniesiareiliableiforiprosecutioniandipunishmentiunderibothiPCMAianditheiProtectioniofiChild
renifromiSexualiOffencesi(POSCO)iAct.iHowever,iitiisiimportantitoinoteithatiifitheiStateigover
nmentigoesibyitheiletteriofitheilaw,iitimustiprosecuteithoseipoliticiansiwhoiattendeditheseimassi
weddingiceremonies.

Althoughichildimarriageiisiainon-
bailableioffence,itheiactirecognisediitiasi“voidable”,ibutivalid.iDespiteitheienactmentiofitheiPC
MA,ithisipracticeiisinotiautomaticallyivoidiunderiIndia’sicivililaws.iUnderitheicurrentiprovision

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siofiPCMA,itheionusiisionitheichildibrideitoideclareiherimarriageinulliandivoidiwithinitwoiyear
siofiattainingimajorityi(20iyearsiofiage).iIfisheidoesinotiapproachitheicourtsiandiissueiherideclar
ationibyithen,itheimarriageistands.iConsideringitheisocialistructureiwithiniwhichitheseiminorsie
xist,iitiisiimpracticalitoiexpectithemitoigoiagainstitheiriparents.

Karnataka,ihowever,iaddressedithisilacunaibyiinsertingiaiprovisioniinitheiActiforitheistate,iwhic
hideclaredithatieveryichildimarriage,iwhetherisolemnisedibeforeioriafteritheicommencementiofit
hisinewiprovisioniofitheilaw,iwillibeitreatediinvalidifromitheiveryioutset.iTheiapexicourtilauded
itheiKarnatakaigovernmentiforitakingisuchiaistepiandiaskediotheristatesitoifollowisuit.

Accessitoibetterieducationiforiyoungigirls,igreateriimpetusionispreadingiawarenessiagainstitheid
ebilitatingieffectsiofichildimarriageibyigovernmentiagencies,iandiextensiveiworkionitheigroundi
byilocalinon-profitsihaveiworkediwonders.

However,iailotimoreiworkiisirequired,iparticularlyiwheniiticomesitoitheiquestioniofiannulmenti
ofitheseimarriages.iAlthoughistatesilikeiKarnatakaihaveiaddresseditheiproblemilegally,iwhatithe
yihaven’tiquiteimanageitoiachieveiisiensureitheisafetyiofitheigirlichildiinisuchisituations.

Havingisaidithat,itheiexampleiofiai“collaborativeipolicing”istrategyiinitiatedibyiRemaiRajeshwa
ri,itheiformeriSuperintendentiofitheiPoliceiofiMahabubnagariDistrictiiniTelangana,iunderitheiBa
lyanikiiRakshaiinitiativei(startediiniJunei2016)ioffersiaipotentialimodeliforitacklingichildimarria
ge.

Collaborativeipolicingiisinothingibutitakingitheihelpiofiallitheiconcernedidepartments.iMostiofit
heitime,itheifirstidistressicalliisireceivedibyitheilocalisub-
inspector.iSHOsiareimoreisensitiveitowardsithisiissue.iHowever,ipoliceialoneicannotistopitheich
ildimarriages.iSo,itheiservicesiwereiintegrated.

Iniadditionitoiholdingiaiseriesiofimeetingsiandiawarenessisessionsiaboutinotijustichildimarriage,
ibutianyisortiofiabuseitheyisuffer,iwithitheivariousistateidepartmentsiworkingionitheiground,ithe
ilocalipoliceialsoiconductedicommunityioutreachiprogramsiattendedibyioveri2400ipriests,ipastor

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s,iandimaulanas.iAtitheseisessions,itheseilocalireligiousifiguresiwereitoldithatitheyiwouldigoitoij
ailiandisufferiotherilegaliconsequencesiforiconductingitheseiweddingiceremonies.

Suchiawarenessiprogramsiresultediiniaisignificantinumberioficallsicomingiintoitheilocalipoliceis
tationsiaboutipotentialichildimarriageiceremonies,iandireduceditheinumberiofichildimarriagesib
yinearlyi65%ioveriaispaniofitwoiyears,ireportsiTheiNewsiMinute.

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BOOKiREVIEWi

iNAMEiOFiTHEiBOOK:iCHILDiMARRIAGEiINiINDIAiSOCIOiLEGALiA
NDiHUMANiRIGHTiDIMENSION

AUTHOR:iJAYAiSAGADE

PUBLISHEDiBY:iOXFORD

PUBLISHEDiIN:i2005

EDITION:i2NDi

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LAWSiRELATEDiTOiCHILDiMARRIAGEiINiINDIA

TheiChildiMarriagei(Restraint)iAct,i1929i

Thisiwasitheifirstiofiitsikindilegislationiregulatingithei“childimarriage”ibyiprescribingitheirequir
ediageiofimarriageiforibothitheipartiesitoitheimarriageiacrossiIndia.iThisiactiaimsitoirestrainithe
ichildimarriage.

InitheicaseiofiSushilaiGothalaivs.iStateiofiRajasthanitheicourtistatedithatitheiminimumirequiredi
ageiforimarriageiisi18iyearsiforigirlsiandi21iyearsiforiboys.

ProvisionsiofitheiProhibitioniofiChildiMarriageiAct,i2006

AsiairesultiofitheiineffectivenessiofiChildiMarriageiRestraintiAct,i1929,iainewilegislationitoirep
laceiitiwasienactediinitheiformiofiProhibitioniofiChildiMarriageiAct,i2006.iTheiActienvisagesip
reventingichildimarriagesiwithienhancedipunishmentsiofirigorousiimprisonmentiforitwoiyearsia
nd/orifineiofiINRi1ilakh.iItidefinesiaichilditoimeaniaimaleibelowi21iyearsiandifemaleibelowi18i
years.iAiminoriisidefinediasiaipersoniwhoihasinotiattaineditheiageiofimajorityiasiperitheiMajori
tyiAct.iThereiareiprovisionsiforimaintenanceiofitheigirlichild.iTheihusbandiisiliableitoipayithei
maintenanceiinicaseiheiisiaimajor.iInicaseitheihusbandiisiaiminor,ihisiparentsiwouldibeiliableito
ipayitheimaintenance.iTheilegalistatusiofiaichildimarriageiisivoidableiatitheioptioniofitheiparties
.iHowever,iifitheiconsentiisiobtainedibyifraud,ideceitioriifitheichildiisienticediawayifromihisila
wfuliguardiansiandiifitheisoleipurposeiisitoiuseitheichildiforitraffickingioriotheriimmoralipurpos
es,itheimarriageiwouldibeivoid.iTheiActialsoiprovidesiforitheiappointmentiofiaiChildiMarriagei
Prohibitioniofficeriwhoseidutiesiareitoipreventichildimarriagesiandispreadiawarenessiregardingit
heisame.

Inconsistenciesibetweenidifferentipersonalilawsiandisecularilaw

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ProhibitioniofiChildiMarriageiAct,i2006

UnderiPCMA,itheimarriageableiageiforiaifemaleiisi18iyearsiandiforiaimale,iitiisi21iyears.iAide
creeiofinullityicanibeiobtainedibyiaigirliwhoihasienterediintoiaichildimarriageiwithini2iyearsiofi
attainingitheiageiofi18iyears.

HinduiMarriageiAct,i1956

UnderitheiHinduiMarriageiAct,ionlyitheipartiesitoiaichildimarriageiareipunishableieveniifitheyi
didinoticonsentitoitheiunion.iThereiareinoiprovisionsiforipunishingitheiparentsioripeopleiwhoiso
lemniseditheimarriage.iAigirlicanigetitheimarriageiannulledionlyiifisheiwasimarriedioffibeforeia
ttainingitheiageiofi15iandisheichallengesitheimarriageibeforeiturningi18.iThereiisinoiexpressipr
ovisionitoiprohibitichildimarriageiperise.

MuslimiPersonaliLaw

MuslimilawiisinoticodifiediiniIndia.iTherefore,iitsiprovisionsiareibasedionitheiinterpretationiofi
Quranibyischolars.iUnderitheiMuslimilaw,ithereiisinoibaritoichildimarriage.iAiguardianihasiairi
ghtitoigetiaichildimarried.iHowever,itheicoupleihasi‘optioniofipuberty’iknowniasikhayar-ul-
bulughiwhereitheyicanirepudiateitheimarriageiafteriattainingipuberty.iHowever,itheyimustidoiso
ibeforeiturningi18iandionlyiifitheimarriageihasinotibeeniconsummated.iTheiageiofimarriageiund
eriMuslimilawiisitheiageiofipubertyiwhichiisi15iyears.iHowever,imarriageibeforeitheiageiofi7ie
veniificontractedibyiailawfuliguardian,iisivoidiabiinitio.

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iIndianiChristianiMarriageiActi(ICMA)

ICMAiprovidesithatiaipreliminaryinoticeiisitoibeiissuedi14idaysiprioritoitheimarriageiifitheimar
riageiisitoibeicontractedibetweeniminors.iAfteritheiexpirationiofitheisaidiperiod,itheipartiesicani
goioniwithitheimarriageiwithoutitheiconsentiofitheiriguardians.

Otheripersonalilaws

UnderiParsiiMarriageiandiDivorceiActi(PMDA),iaichildimarriageiisiinvalid.iHowever,itheiActii
sisilentiregardingiageiwhereitheiprovisionsiforianiinvalidimarriageiareilisted.iJewishilawiiniIndi
aiisiuncodified.iUnderiit,itheimarriageableiageiisitheiageiofipubertyiwhichiisifixediati12iyears.

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CASEiSUMMARYi

(COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION(LAJJA DEVI AND ORS. V. STATE AND

1.iAfteritheiaforesaidireferenceiwasimade,iasisomeiotheripetitionsiinvolvingisameiquestionsica
meiupiforiadjudication,itheyiwereialsoidirecteditoibeilistedialongiwithiWritiPetitioni(Crl.)

2.itheiletteriwasitreatediasiaiWritiPetitioniandiwasiplacedibeforeitheiappropriateiBenchioni14thi
March,i2008iwhereuponinoticeiwasiissueditoitheiStateidirectingiititoifileitheiStatusiReport.

SheiwasisentitoiNirmaliChhayaiinjudicialicustody.

TheiCourtisentitheipetitioneriNo.i1itoiNariiNiketanitillitheitimeisheiattaineditheiageiofimajorityi
videiordersidatedi31.5.2010iatitheisameitimeitheipetitioneriNo.i2iwasialloweditoimeetiheritwice
iaiweekiatileastiforitwoihoursionieachioccasionivideiordersidatedi29.10.2011iAsiperitheischoolil
eavingicertificateisheicompleteditheiageiofi18iyearsioni3.3.2011iSheiwasireleasedifromiNariiNi
ketaniandisheidecideditoijoinitheicompanyiofitheipetitioneriNo.i2iandihasibeenilivingiwithihim.

1)iWhetheriaimarriageicontractedibyiaiboyiwithiaifemaleiofilessithani18iyearsiandiaimaleiofiles
sithani21iyearicouldibeisaiditoibeivalidimarriageianditheicustodyiofitheisaidigirlibeigivenitoithei
husbandi(ifiheiisinotiinicustody)'

2)iWhetheriaiminoricanibeisaiditoihaveireacheditheiageiofidiscretionianditherebyiwalkiawayifro
mitheilawfuliguardianshipiofiheriparentsiandirefuseitoigoiinitheiricustody'

13.iWeiwouldilikeitoimentionithatitheireasoniforireferringitheiaforesaidiquestionsiforiconsiderat
ionibyiLargeriBenchiaroseioniaccountiofithreeiDivisioniBenchijudgmentsiofithisiCourtiwhereini
viewiwasitakenithatimarriageiofiaiminorigirliwouldineitheribeivoidinorivoidableiunderitheiHind
uiMarriageiAct,i1955i(hereinafterireferreditoiasitheiHMiAct).

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Whetheriaimarriageicontractedibyiaiboyiwithiaifemaleiofilessithani18iyearsiandiaifemaleiofiless
ithani21iyearicouldibeisaiditoibeivalidimarriageianditheicustodyiofitheisaidigirlibeigivenitoithei
husbandi(ifiheiisinotiinicustody)'

Providedithatinoiorderiunderithisisectionishallibeipassediunlessitheiconcernedipartiesihaveibeeni
giveninoticesitoiappearibeforeitheidistricticourtiandishowicauseiwhyisuchiorderishouldinotibeip
assed.

(b)iAccordingitoiSectioni2(a)iofitheiProhibitioniofiChildiMarriageiAct,i2006,iai'child'imeansiai
personiwho,iifiaimale,ihasinoticompleteditwenty-
oneiyearsiofiage,iandiififemale,ihasinoticompletedieighteeniyearsiofiage.

Sectioni9iofitheisaidiActiprovidesiforipunishmentiforiaimaleiadultiabovei18iyearsiofiageicontra
ctingiaichildimarriageipunishableiwithirigorousiimprisonmentiwhichimayiextenditoitwoiyearsior
iwithifineiwhichimayiextenditoiRs.

(d)iTheioffenceicarriesiaipunishmentiwhichimayiextendiupitoi2iyearsiandiclearlyitheioffenceiw
ouldibeibailableiandinon-cognizable.

AccordingitoiSectioni2(a)iofitheiAct,i"child"imeansiaiperson,iwho,iifiaimale,ihasinoticompleted
itwenty-
oneiyearsiofiage,iandiifiaifemale,ihasinoticompletedieighteeniyearsiofiageiandiaccordingitoiSect
ioni2(b)iofitheiAct,i"childimarriage"imeansiaimarriageitoiwhichieitheriofitheicontractingiparties
iisiaichild.

TheiCourtihadinoioccasionitoireferitoitheiprovisionsiofiSectioni12iofitheiAct.

Theiratioilaididowniinitheseicasesiisinotiapplicable.

Theisaidijudgmentiisialsoiofinoihelpitoitheipresentipetitioners.

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IihaveifoundithatiprovisionsiofiSectioni12iofitheiActiwouldiapplyiwithifullirigouriinitheipresent
icaseianditheimarriageiwhichihasibeenisolemnisedibyipetitioneriNo.i2iwithipetitioneriNo.i1,iwh
oiisichildiandiaiminor,iisiunsustainableiinitheieyesiofilawiandiisideclarediasivoid.

Sectionsi10iandi11iofitheiActiprovidesiforipunishmentiforisuchipersonsiandiSectioni15iofitheiA
ctiprovidesithatinotwithstandingianythingicontainediinitheiCodeiofiCriminaliProcedure,i1973,ia
nioffenceishallibeicognizableiandinon-bailable.

IiholdithatitheipersoniwhoihasiperformedioriabetteditheichildimarriageiofipetitioneriNo.i1,iisials
oiequallyiliableiandiforithatipurpose,iIidirectitheiStateitoitakeiappropriateiactionibyilodgingithei
caseiagainstitheipersonsiwhoiareiresponsibleiforitheiperformanceiofitheichildimarriageiinitheipr
esenticase.

P.CicanibeigrantedibyithisiCourtibecauseiinithatieventualityipoliceiprotectionihasitoibeigrantedit
oiaifugitiveiofilaw."

TheiInspectoriofiPolice,i(HCPiNo.i907/11idecidedioni3.10.2011),iwhichiisiaijudgmentibyitheiF
ulliBenchiofitheiMadrasiHighiCourt.

"(1)iWhetheriaimarriageicontractedibyiaipersoniwithiaifemaleiofilessithani18iyearsicouldibeisai
ditoibeivalidimarriageianditheicustodyiofitheisaidigirlibeigivenitoitheihusbandi(ifiheiisinotiinicu
stody)'

20.iTheiFulliBenchiofitheiMadrasiHighiCourtireferreditoitheiprovisionsiofiHMiActiasiwelliasiP
CMiAct.

Irrespectiveiofipersonalilaws,iunderithisiActichildimarriagesiareiprohibited.

TheiPCMiAct,ibeingiaispecialilaw,iwillihaveioverridingieffectioveritheiHMiActitoitheiextentiofi
anyiinconsistencyibetweenitheitwoienactments.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii14
If,iwithinitwoiyearsifromitheidateiofiattainingieighteeniyearsiinitheicaseiofiaifemaleianditwenty-
oneiyearsiinitheicaseiofiaimale,iaipetitioniisinotifiledibeforeitheiDistrictiCourtiunderiSectioni3(1
)iofitheiProhibitioniofiChildiMarriageiActiforiannullingitheimarriage,itheimarriageishallibecome
iaifull- fledgedivalidimarriage.

Weiholdithatithoughisuchiaivoidableimarriageisubsistsiandithoughisomeirightsiandiliabilitiesiem
anateioutiofitheisame,iuntiliitiisieitheriacceptediexpresslyioriimpliedlyibyitheichildiafteriattainin
githeieligibleiageioriannulledibyiaicourtiofilaw,isuchivoidableimarriage,icannotibeieitheristatedit
oibeioriequateditoiai'Validimarriage'istrictisensuiasiperitheiclassificationireferreditoiabove."

TheiDivisioniBenchiwasiofitheiviewithatitheivalidityiofimarriageiisiprimarilyitoibeijudgedifrom
itheistandpointiofipersonalilawiapplicableitoitheipartiesitoitheimarriage.

TheiFulliBenchiofiMadrasiHighiCourtihasiundertakeniindepthidiscussioniofithisieviliofichildim
arriageiiniIndia.

8.iIticannotibeidisputedithatitheiaforesaidimarriageiisiiniviolationiofiprovisionsiofitheiProhibitio
niofiChildiMarriageiAct,i2006iinasmuchiasiChandniiisiminoriandiinibelowitheiageiofi18iyears.

(ii)iYoungigirlsiwhoilackistatus,ipoweriandimaturityiareioftenisubjecteditoidomesticiviolence,is
exualiabuseiandisocialiisolation.

Studiesiindicateithatiwomeniwhoimarryiatiyoungiagesiareimoreilikelyitoibelieveithatiitiisisometi
mesiacceptableiforiaihusbanditoibeatihisiwife,iandiareimoreilikelyitoiexperienceidomesticiviole
nceithemselves.

Asiwouldibeiseenihereafter,itheilegislatureihasistillinotimadeiadequateiandieffectiveiprovisionsii
nitheilawsitoimakeisuchiaimarriageiasivoid.

(v)iToiempoweritheidistrictiCourtitoiaddito,imodifyiorirevokeianyiorderirelatingitoiMaintenance
iofitheifemaleipetitioneriandiheriresidenceiandicustodyioriMaintenanceiofichildren,ietc.

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(vii)iToiempoweritheiCourtsitoiissueiinjunctioniprohibitingisolemnsationiofimarriagesiinicontra
ventioniofitheiprovisionsiofitheiproposedilegislation.

Theitermi"child"iiniSectioni2(a)imeansiaipersoniwho,iifiaimale,ihasinoticompleteditwenty-
oneiyearsiofiage,iandiifiaifemale,ihasinoticompletedieighteeniyearsiofiage.

Sub-
sectioni(4)iprotectsiaifemaleichild,iwhoiwasimarried,iandistipulatesithatitheidistricticourticanipa
ssianiinterimiorifinaliorderidirectingipaymentiofiMaintenanceitoiher.

TheisaidirightiofitheiHinduifemalesitoiaskiforidivorce,idoesinotimeanithatiaipetitionibeforeithei
districticourticannotibeifilediunderiSectioni3iofitheiPCMiAct.

PCMiActiasinoticediaboveiisiaisecularilawiandiisiailatterienactment,iwhichispecificallyidealsiwi
thitheiproblemiofichildimarriages.

PCMiActibeingiai"specialiAct"iandibeingiaisubsequentilegislation,itoithisiextentiandiinicaseithe
reiisianyiconflict,iwillioverrideitheiprovisionsiofiHMAiActioriforithatimatterianyipersonalilaw.

Asinoticedibelow,iaiDivisioniBenchiofithisiCourtiiniW.Pi(Crl.)i1003/2010idecidedioni11.08.20
10iJitenderiKumariSharmaiv.iState,ihasibeeniheldithatiPCMiActiisiaisecularilaw.

Theilegislatureievenimadeitheichildimarriageiaipunishableioffenceibyiincorporatingiprovisionifo
riprosecutioniandiimprisonmentioficertainipersons.

PCMiAct,iwhichiisiaisecularilaw,itreatsithisimarriageiasivoidableiexceptithoseieventsiwhichiarei
coveredibyiSectioni12iofitheiPCMiAct.

Weicannotiholdichildimarriageiasiainullityiorivoid.

Theinextiquestionithatifollowsiisiasitoiwhetheritheiprovisionsiofipersonalilaw,ii.e,iHinduiMarria
geiActishouldibeiapplieditoideclareisuchiaimarriageiasivalidioritheiprovisionsiofiPCMiActiwoul
diprevailioveritheiHMiAct.

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Byikeepingiailoweriageioficonsentiforimaritaliintercourse,iitiseemsithatitheilegislatureihasilegiti
mizeditheiconceptiofichildimarriage.

Theiprovisionsicontainingilegalivalidityiprovideianiassuranceitoitheiparentsiandiguardiansithatit
heilegalirightsiofitheimarriediminorsiareisecured.

35.ieveniafteritheipassingiofitheinewiActii.eitheiProhibitioniofiChildiMarriageiActi2006,icertain
iloopholesistilliremain,itheilegislationsiareiweakiasitheyidoinotiactuallyiprohibitichildimarriage.

36.iMr.iDeepiRayiofiNALSARiUniversityiofiLaw,iHyderabadihasipointedioutitheifollowingithr
eeiloopholesiinihisiarticlei"ChildiMarriageianditheiLaw".

Itiisiinikeepingiwithitheisocialirealityithatisuchimarriagesiareinotideclaredivoid.

SocialicustomsiandipersonalilawsiofidifferentireligiousigroupsiiniIndiaiallowsimarriageiofimino
rigirlsianditheiProhibitioniChildiMarriageiAct,i2006idoesinotimentioniwhetheriitiprohibitiallithe
iunderageimarriagesithatiareisanctionedibyireligiousilaws.

Weiwouldialsoihastenitoiaddithatithereiisinoichallengeitoitheivalidityiofitheiprovisionsiandidecl
arationibyitheilegislatureiofisuchiaimarriageiasivoidableieveniwheniitiisitreatediasiviolationiofih
umanirightsiandialsoipunishableiasicriminalioffenceiasiproperiorinot,icannotibeigoneiintoiinithe
seiproceedings.

Initheibehalf,iweiwouldilikeitoipointioutithatitheiLawiCommissionihasimadeicertainirecommen
dationsitoiimproveitheilawsirelateditoichildimarriage.

(a)iInitheicaseiofiaiboyiorianiunmarriedigirl-
theifather,iandiafterihim,itheimother:iprovidedithatitheicustodyiofiaiminoriwhoihasinoticomplete
ditheiageiofifiveiyearsishalliordinarilyibeiwithitheimother;

Itiwasisubmittedithatitheihusband,ieveniifiaiminor,iwouldibeitheiguardianiofihisiwife.

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(2)iNoipersonishallibeientitleditoitheiguardianshipibyivirtueiofitheiprovisionsiofithisiActioriofia
nyilawirelatingitoiguardianshipiinimarriageiamongiHindus,iifitheicourtiisiofiopinionithatihisiori
heriguardianshipiwillinotibeiforitheiwelfareiofitheiminor."

ThereiwouldibeimanyiotherifactorsiwhichitheiCourtiwillihaveitoikeepiinimind,iparticularlyiinith
oseicasesiwhereitheigirl,ithoughiminor,ielopediwithitheiboyi(whetheribelowioriabovei21iyearsio
fiage)iandisheidoesinotiwantitoigoibackitoiheriparents.

Weiareiofitheiopinionithatithereicannotibeiaistraightiforwardiansweritoitheisecondipartiofithisiq
uestioniandidependingiuponitheicircumstancesitheiCourtiwillihaveitoidecideiinianiappropriateim
anneriasitoiwhomitheicustodyiofitheisaidigirlichildiisitoibeigiven.iGoito

Consentibelowitheiageiofi16iyearsiisiimmaterial,iexceptiwhenitheirapeiisicommittedibyiaimalei
whoiisimarrieditoitheigirl.

TheiCourtiwhileideciding,ishouldialsoikeepiinimindithatisuchimarriagesiareivoidableianditheigir
lihasitheirightitoiapproachitheiCourtiunderiSectioni3iofitheiPCMiActitoigetitheimarriageideclare
divoiditillisheiattainsitheiageiofi20iyears.

56.iInitheiWritiPetition,itheiquestioniisionlyiofivalidityiofimarriageiandiguardianship.

Theimarriageibecomesivalidinow.

TheiWritiPetitioniisidisposediofiinitheiaforesaiditerms.

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ARTICLEiREVIEW

NAMEiOFiTHEiARTICLE:iMARRIAGEiPATTERNiINiSOUTHiAFRICA:i
METHODOLOGICALiANDiSUBSTANTIVEiISSUES

AUTHOR:iDEBBIEiBUDDLENDER,iNTEBALENGiCHOBOKOANE

PUBLISHEDiBY:iPOPULATIONiASSOCIATIONiOFiSOUTHiAFRICA

YEAR:i2004

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii19
COMPARATIVEiSTUDYiWITHiSOUTHiAFRICA

PREVALENCEiOFiCHILDiMARRIAGEiINiSOUTHiAFRICA

IniSouthiAfricaimuchipubliciattentionionichildimarriageihasibeenifocusedionitheicustomaryipra
cticeiofiukuthwala.iUkuthwalaiisitheimockiabductioniofianiunmarriediwomaniorigirliforitheipur
poseiofiaicustomaryimarriage.iUnfortunatelyithereiisinoidataiavailableitoiindicateitheirelationshi
pibetweeniukuthwalaiandichildimarriage,ianditheiprevalenceiofitheipractice.iMediaiandiotherire
portsiindicateithatitheipracticeiisicommonlyipractisediinitheiruralipartsiofitheiEasterniCapeiandi
KwaZulu-
Natal.iHowever,iitiisiimportantitoiemphasizeitheifactithatiasiailegitimateitraditionalipracticeithat
imayileaditoiaivalidicustomaryimarriage,ichildreniwhoihaveinotireacheditheimarriageableiageiw
ereinotiinvolvediinitheipractice.iHowever,itheifactithatitheimarriageableiageiaccordingitoicusto
miisitheiageiofipuberty,iwhichiisiusuallyiattainedibeforeitheiageiofi18iyears,imeansithatiukuthw
alaileadsitoichildimarriage.iIniaddition,itheilawsithatigovernicustomaryimarriages,inamely,ithei
RecognitioniofiCustomaryiMarriageiActi(RCMA),ireaditogetheriwithitheiMarriagesiActi whichia
llowsiminorsitoigetimarriediprovideditheyihaveitheinecessaryiconsent,iarguablyimayibeicontrib
utorsitoitheichallengeitoiendingichildimarriagesiiniSouthiAfrica.

CHILDiMARRIAGEiANDiCULTURALiPRACTICESiINiSOUTHiAFRICA

SouthiAfrica,ibyiprescribingitheimarriageableiageitoibei18iyearsiforibothigirlsiandiboysiunderit
heiRecognitioniofiCustomaryiMarriagesiAct,iarguablyihasioutlawediallicustomaryimarriagesiofi
childreniunderitheiageiofi18iyears.iHowever,itheiRecognitioniofiCustomaryiMarriagesiAct,iread
iwithitheiMarriageiAct,iallowsipersonsibelowitheiageiofi18itoigetimarriediprovideditheyihaveith
einecessaryiconsent.iThisipositionisendsiconflictingimessagesiinirespectiofieffortsitoiendichildi
marriagesilinkeditoicustomaryipracticesiiniSouthiAfrica.iIniaddition,istatutoryirape,inamely,icon
sensualisexiwithiaichildibelowitheiageiofi16iyears,iassault,irapeiandikidnapping,ialliimplicitiinit
heimodern-
dayipracticeiofiukuthwala,iareicriminallyisanctionediinitermsiofitheiSexualiOffencesiAct.

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Moreirecently,itheiSouthiAfricaniLawiReformiCommissioniproposeditheiProhibitioniofiForcedi
MarriagesiandiChildiMarriagesiBill,i2015iwhichiseeksitoioutlawiandicriminaliseialliforcediandi
childimarriagesiasiairesultiof,iamongiotherifactors,iukuthwala.i TheiProhibitioniofiForcediMarria
gesiandiChildiMarriagesiBilliisiairesponseitoiconcernsiexpressedifromitheiGenderiDirectorate.i
TheiGenderiDirectorateiarguedithatichildreniaffectedibyiukuthwala,iresultingiinitheirirightsitoip
ersonalisafetyiandiwell-
beingibeingiviolated,iareiatiriskiofilifelongidevelopmentaliburdens,iincludingiHIViinfectioniand
iotheriphysical,iemotionaliandisocialiproblems.i TheiDirectorateialsoistressedithatiSouthiAfricani
values,ibeliefsiandipracticesimustibeiconsistentiwithitheiConstitution,iwhichispecificallyiguarant
eesitheirightsiofichildren.iConcerniwasiparticularlyiraisediaboutitheiimpactiofiukuthwalaionithei
girlichildianditheiappropriatenessiandiadequacyioficurrentilawsioniukuthwala,iandiwhetheritheil
awsiupholditheihumanirightsiofitheigirlichild,itakingiintoiconsiderationitheiprincipleiofitheibesti
interestsiofitheichild.

Withithisiendiiniview,itheiLawiReformiCommissioniproducediaireportioniukuthwalaiwhichicul
minatediinitheiProhibitioniBill.iiAsipointedioutiearlier,itheiProhibitioniBilliisiaimediaticriminali
singiforcedimarriagesiandichildimarriages,iincludingithoseiasiairesultiofiukuthwala.iIfitheiProhi
bitioniBillibecomesilaw,iitiwillibeitheifirstitimeithatisuchichildimarriagesiwillibeicriminalisediin
iSouthiAfrica.i Besidesicriminalisingiforcedimarriagesiandichildimarriages,itheiProhibitioniBilli
willigiveieffectitoiinternationalilawianditheiconstitutionalivaluesiofihumanidignity.iItiwillirequir
eithatimarriagesiareienterediintoifreelyiandiwithoutianyiformioficoercion,iandiwilliprovideiforit
heiprosecutioniandipenaltiesiofipersonsiwhoicommitioffences.i Atitheisameitime,itheiProhibitioni
Billihasiainumberiofishortcomingsiinithatiitidoesinotisetioutitheimarriageableiageiofi18iyearsiwi
thoutiexceptions.iTheiProhibitioniBillialsoidoesinotirepealiprovisionsithatiallowichildrenitoigeti
marriediinibothitheiMarriageiActianditheiRecognitioniofiCustomaryiMarriagesiAct.iFinally,ithei
ProhibitioniBillidoesinotiamendiprovisionsiinitheiChildren'siActithatiareivagueiinirelationitoithe
iminimumiageiofimarriageianditheibetrothaliofichildren.

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CONCLUSIONiANDiSUGGESTIONS
ChildiMarriageiisiaimenaceithaticannotibeicurbediwithoutisupportifromitheisociety.iThereihavei
beenidemandsitoimakeichildimarriageivoidiabiinitioiunderitheiProhibitioniofiChildiMarriagesiA
ct,ibutiIndianisocietyiisicomplicatediandicomplexiandimakingichildimarriagesivoidiwillionlyijeo
pardiseitheirightsiofiwomeniwhoiareivictimsiofichildimarriage.iMereilegislationiwillinotiserveit
heipurposeiunlessithereiisisupportiandibackingifromitheisociety.iUniformiCiviliCodeiwouldialso
ihelpiinipreventingichildimarriageitoisomeiextent.

Lawireformitoiendichildimarriage,ilinkeditoipracticesiembeddediiniculture,iisiconsiderediaidiffi
cultitaskisinceiitipresentsiaipotentialiconflictibetweenichildren'sirightsiandiculturalirights.iSouthi
Africaitherefore,iisiitoibeilaudediforitheirivariousipositiveilawireforms.iTheseilawsipresentitheip
otentialitoibeiinstrumentsitoifightichildimarriage.

However,ianiexaminationiofiitheiprocessileadingitoitheseireformsiindicatesithatithereiareimanyi
aspectsicentralitoichildren'siexperiencesiiniplacesiwhereichildimarriageiisimostiprevalentithatiha
veinotibeeniaddressed.iAicrucial,ianditheimostiobvious,iissueiisipoverty.i Itihasibeeniwidelyiobse
rvedithatipovertyiisibehindimosticulturalipracticesisuchiasiloboloi(brideiwealth),iukuthwala,ikup
imbira,iandikuvar/ra.iIfieffortsitoiendichildimarriageiareitoibeimeaningfulitoitheichildreniaffecte
d,iitiappearsiobviousithatitheiprocessiofilawireformineedsitoibeicouplediwithipracticaliwaysiofia
ddressingifactorsithatiperpetuateiharmfuliculturalipracticesilinkeditoichildimarriage.

Someipracticaliways,iasiproposedibyitheiGirlsiNotiBridesiconsortium,iincludeimobilisingicomm
unitiesitoibeiagentsiofichangeiand,imoreiimportantly,iempoweringigirls.iThisibottoms-
upiapproach,iasichampionedibyiChannock,iwilliensureithatichangeiisigroundediinipeoples'irealit
yiandinotijustiimposedionithem.iIniaddition,iitiisialsoiobviousithat,iinitheiselectedicountries,ithe
ifactorsithatileaditoichildimarriageiareinotiuniqueitoitheiregion.iTherefore,imuchimoreicanibeile
arnedifromieffortsiofiothericountries,iparticularlyiiniNortherniAfrica,iwhereiUNICEFihasireport
edigoodiprogressiinitheifightiagainstichildimarriage,iaimatteriforidiscussionielsewhere.

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i
iCourtioniitsiownimotioni(lajjaideviiv.istateiandiors)

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.nationalgeographic.com

www.researchgate.net

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

www.unicef.in

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