Malappuram: Chief Judicial Magistrate, DCPU to act tough on child marriages

Malappuram: The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Malappuram has upped the ante on the prohibition of child marriages in the wake of rampant illegal marriages involving minors during the vacation season. The DCPU has roped in 29 Child Marriage Prevention Officers for the special drive in 15 block Panchayats in the district to monitor and report such cases. “If they find such cases, it will be taken to court and the illegal marriages will be thwarted by injunction orders from the respective courts,” District Child Protection Officer Mr. Sameer Machingal said.

Usually during the school vacation months there is an increase in the number of such cases especially in the northern parts of the district. The DCPU will also provide special training and awareness classes for the elected members of the local bodies and Panchayat, Municipal and Block level Child Protection Council members to tackle the issue. Meanwhile, the Chief Judicial Magistrate R.T Prakash has directed nine Judicial First Class Magistrates in the district for timely intervention to thwart child marriages in the wake of increase in such cases during the past few months. The CJM Court in Manjeri had thwarted a child marriage on Tuesday.