'Child Marriages Shouldn't Occur At Any Cost': Rajasthan Government Recalls Controversial Bill

In a tweet, Gehlot said, "We have a strong resolve that child marriage should not take place in the state and the government will not make any compromise in this regard."

Ashok Gehlot (File Photo)

New Delhi: After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said he will urge Governor Kalraj Mishra to re-examine the controversial Marriages Amendment Bill 2021, the state government has decided to recall the bill on Monday. 

Citing concerns that its provisions may encourage child marriages, Gehlot said that the state government will urge the governor to return the bill for legal consultations.

The Bill was passed in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on September 17 amid objections from opposition BJP MLAs who walked out of the assembly. A huge uproar followed after the bill was passed, with an NGO challenging the amendment in the bill in the Rajasthan High Court, according to new reports. 

The Rajasthan Compulsory Registrations of Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2021 makes it mandatory to register all marriages even if a girl is under 18 and a boy is under 21 by the guardians. The statement and objective of the amendment bill said that if the couple has not completed the legal age of marriage, the parents or guardians shall be responsible for submitting a memorandum within a prescribed period.

According to a PTI report, while addressing a programme on International Girl Child Day, Gehlot said, "There has been a controversy in the country that this law will encourage child marriage. We decided that it was not a question of our reputation. We will request the governor to return the law we have passed." 

After legal consultation from lawyers, it will be considered whether to take the Bill forward or not, he said. Gehlot said that it is the government's resolve that child marriages do not occur at any cost in Rajasthan.

"I want to assure you that I will not compromise on that. We will get it re-examined and if we consider it necessary then we will take it forward or else we will not take it forward. We have no problem," the chief minister said.

Despite a ban on child marriages, the state has been reporting such cases over the years. Gehlot said that the Supreme Court had made it necessary to register every marriage after which the Bill was introduced and passed. He said that legal opinion was taken earlier and the government will take it further also so that child marriages never happen in Rajasthan.

"The Supreme Court stated that marriage should be registered, be it of anyone. In view of this, a bill was passed in the assembly, but a controversy erupted that this law will encourage child marriage," he said.

In a tweet, he said "The state government is working with a strong will for the complete eradication of child marriage in the state. We have a strong resolve that child marriage should not take place in the state and the government will not make any compromise in this regard."

While passing the bill, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal had said in the Assembly that the proposed legislation allows registration of marriages but does not state anywhere that these marriages will eventually become valid. If it is indeed a child marriage, the collector of the particular district and the officers concerned will be able to take necessary action against the families, the minister had pointed out.

Dhariwal said even the couple can get their marriage registered, provided that they inform their families within 30 days.