In Madhya Pradesh, police have registered a case against seven individuals, including the parents of a 15-year-old girl, a 19-year-old man, and a priest, for their roles in conducting a child marriage. The marriage, held on April 24 and performed according to Hindu customs, has come under scrutiny by the Chandan Nagar police.
The case was lodged under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, which outlaws the marriage of boys under 21 and girls under 18. Violators of this act face severe penalties including up to two years of rigorous imprisonment and fines up to one lakh or both.
This incident was flagged as part of the Lado Abhiyan campaign, an initiative launched by the Madhya Pradesh government in 2013 to combat child marriages. According to Mahendra Pathak, a member of the campaign’s flying squad, the girl’s father disclosed that his daughter and the young man were in love. The girl had reportedly threatened to end her life if prevented from marrying.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing child marriage laws in India and the complex social issues surrounding such unions, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
