Child marriage cases to be dealt severely: Child Welfare Department officials

HYDERABAD: Officials of the Child Welfare Department has stated that from now onwards, child marriage cases will be dealt severely and all those who are involved will be served severe punishment.

The law clearly states that each person involved in the marriage of a minor, from her parents to middlemen, including the caterer, wedding card printers, priests and others, who performed or directed child marriage, could face imprisonment of three months and a possible fine, until they could state that the marriage performed was not a child marriage. But this rule is flouted as many say that they were not aware of the age of the bride. However, the same excuse cannot be used any further as the state government is conducting awareness campaigns against child marriage in rural areas which led to an increase in the number of tip-offs being received.

“To ensure that the rates of child marriages come down, the middlemen will have to begin asking the age of the bride before accepting bookings,” Mohd Imtiyaz, District Child Protection Officer, said.