Karnataka’s New Law To Jail Those Preparing Child Marriages Or Engagements
Karnataka’s new child marriage law makes planning or engagement of minors a punishable offence. Aadhaar fraud and early marriage preparations now face strict legal action.
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Karnataka: In a state grappling with the persistence of child marriage despite legal prohibitions and awareness drives, Karnataka is preparing to introduce a stringent amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
This comes after a spate of deeply concerning incidents involving underage girls being forced into marriage, and in some cases, even manipulated Aadhaar cards to falsify the minor’s age to make the unions appear legally valid.
One particularly courageous incident was reported from Shivamogga, where a young girl who had scored 82% in her Class 12 exams resisted intense family pressure to get married on Akshaya Tritiya, a day traditionally considered auspicious for weddings. Refusing to give in, she dialed the child helpline in May and put an end to the forced marriage. Her bold move saved her future and shed light on the urgency to act at the grassroots level.
In another heart-wrenching case from Belagavi, a 15-year-old girl was found to have been married not once, but twice, all before reaching the legal age of 18. She was first married off at the age of 12. After the marriage broke down, she was married again at 15.
Tragically, she lost two children during childbirth. It was only after the intervention of a local NGO, Spandana, that she was rescued. Authorities later discovered that her Aadhaar card had been tampered with—altered to falsely show her as five years older to make the illegal marriages seem lawful.
These stories are not isolated. Karnataka has officially recorded 1,465 child marriage cases over the last three years, a figure that experts say could be only the tip of the iceberg due to underreporting and cultural acceptance in rural belts.
In light of this alarming trend, the Karnataka government is set to table the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the monsoon session of the state legislature. The proposed changes aim to prevent such incidents by criminalizing not just child marriage, but also the planning and engagement processes leading up to them.
What Does the Amendment Propose?
The proposed bill introduces sweeping changes that significantly broaden the scope of the existing child marriage law. Among the most impactful additions is Section 9Awhich criminalizes not just the conduct of a child marriagebut also the attempt or preparation for such a marriage or even engagement.
According to the draft language,
“Whoever makes an attempt and preparation to make child marriage, or attempt and preparation to make engagement of a child shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or both.”
This marks a major shift from the current law, where punitive action typically only comes into play after a child marriage has occurred. By allowing authorities to intervene at the planning or engagement stage, the government hopes to block many such cases from materializing, particularly during festival seasons or community mass weddings, where underage unions are commonly hidden.
Another major clause in the amendment specifies that any engagement involving a minor will be deemed null and voidplacing engagement under legal scrutiny for the first time. This move reflects the understanding that early engagements are often a precursor to underage marriage, and must be addressed with equal seriousness.
In addition, the bill proposes to empower judicial magistrates with proactive authority. If a Judicial Magistrate First Class or metropolitan judge is satisfied that a child engagement has been arranged or is about to occur, they can issue an injunction against the individuals involved, including religious heads, family members, or community organizers, prohibiting such engagement.
The amendment also seeks to expand the net of accountability. While the existing legal framework primarily holds parents or guardians responsible, the proposed law aims to penalize anyone involved in facilitating child marriages. This includes relatives, religious leaders, NGOs, event organizers, and community elders, essentially anyone playing a role in planning or conducting the event.
Why the Spike in Child Marriages?
Despite multiple awareness campaigns and the appointment of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), the rise in reported cases indicates that traditional customs, poverty, gender inequality, and lack of education remain strong barriers to progress. In rural and semi-urban areas, early marriage is still seen as a norm, particularly for girls, to reduce the perceived financial and social burden on the family.
Officials have also pointed out the misuse of Aadhaar cards as a growing concern. In many cases, age is intentionally altered on ID cards to bypass legal scrutiny. This administrative loophole allows child marriages to proceed under the guise of legality, making enforcement challenging.
The Karnataka government believes that these proposed amendments will not only act as a deterrent but also provide the legal tools needed to intervene earlierthus preventing emotional, physical, and mental trauma for countless young girls.
As the bill heads to the state assembly in the upcoming monsoon session, it carries with it the weight of real-life stories of bravery, tragedy, and the hope for a future where every child, especially every girl, has the right to education, safety, and autonomy over her own life.
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