The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote to the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government against the Compulsory Registration of Marriages (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that was passed in the Assembly recently. In the letter, NCPCR says, “The Commission is apprehensive that the enactment of Registration of Marriages (Amendment) Bill, 2021 may have a serious impact on the physical, psychological, social and education of minors in the State.”
The NCPCR said that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2016 prohibited solemnization of child marriages and constitutes child marriages by a male adult with a girl child an offence under section 10. Priyank Kanoonga, the chairperson of the NCPCR, said, “if child rights violation is happening in contradictory to the Child Marriage Act, Juvenile Justice Act and POSCO Act, we will go to court to stop its implementation.” “The state government should be sensitive toward the children and NCPCR requests the lawmakers of Rajasthan to rethink,” NCPCR head added.
The legislation was brought by the Rajasthan government and formed via voice vote amends the 2009 Act on mandatory registration of marriages within 30 days. The latest amendments, according to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will legitimize child marriages.