June 8th 2024.
The 17th Lok Sabha has come to an end, and with it, a significant bill has lapsed. This particular bill aimed to establish a uniform age for marriage for both men and women. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill, 2021 was first presented in the Lok Sabha in December of 2021 and was then referred to the standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports for further review.
However, the standing committee faced several extensions before finally reaching a decision. According to PDT Acharya, former Lok Sabha Secretary-General and expert on the Constitution, the bill has now lapsed due to the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha. This means that the bill is no longer valid and cannot be passed into law.
The primary goal of the bill was to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, with a particular focus on increasing the minimum age of marriage for females to 21 years. Additionally, the bill would have superseded any other existing laws, customs, or practices related to child marriage. This would have been a significant step towards preventing early and forced marriages in the country.
Under the current 2006 Act, individuals who are married below the minimum age can seek annulment within two years of reaching adulthood. However, the new bill aimed to extend this timeframe to five years, providing more time for those affected by child marriage to take legal action.
Unfortunately, with the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the bill has lost its chance of being passed into law. This came about after the members of the 18th Lok Sabha were elected in the general elections, marking the end of the 17th Lok Sabha's term. The bill's fate remains uncertain, and it is unclear if it will be reintroduced in the future. This leaves the issue of child marriage in India unresolved, and further action is needed to address this pressing issue.
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