On Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006, Aarti Banerjee

March 09, 2007: Marriage is a celebration in India, but unfortunately so is child marriage. Although we have a statute since 1929 to restrain the same, the power of that legislation in controlling this social evil is dismal.

This legislation was passed to provide for the prohibition of solemnisation of child marriages and for matters connected therewith, unlike the other one which was more concerned with restrain of the same by providing punishments.

I would explain the Act with examples of Rina(14) and Pancham(22) , (two purely fictional characters and any connection with anybody living or dead is purely coincidental)  who get married and the consequences of the same along with how would law react in different situations.

This Act is not in force as of now, i.e. sometimes after a statute receives the assent of the parliament, the state needs to develop the necessary machinery to actually put the Act and its provisions into action. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different States.

To the best of my knowledge, the Act is not in force anywhere in India as of now but could be brought in fore anytime and when that happens we could circulate another mail informing members that the Act is in force. Read Full Article