[Reader-list] Gujarat, AP top list of child marriages

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Gujarat, AP top list of child marriages
PTI, Mar 30, 2010, 12.47pm IST

NEW DELHI: Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have earned the dubious
distinction of being at the top two spots in the list of child
marriages in the country accounting for 40 per cent of such incidents
in a single year.

Even the national capital has recorded one such incident in the year
2008, according to the latest government data prepared by National
Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

This is only the second case reported from Delhi in this decade. It
had recorded one such incident in 2003.

A total of 104 cases of child marriage were reported across the
country in 2008, which is an 8.3 per cent increase over the previous
year's figure of 96.

While 23 cases were reported from Gujarat, the NCRB report noted that
Andhra Pradesh reported 19.

In 2007, Andhra topped the list with 19 cases while Gujarat was at
second spot with 14 cases.

According to previous reports of the NCRB, Gujarat had found its place
among states recording highest cases of child marriage every year this
decade.

Since 2001, Gujarat has recorded 164 cases of child marriages with the
state recording the highest of 38 in the year 2002. It had reported 11
cases the previous year.

In 2003, Gujarat has 11 cases while it had 30 cases in 2004, 25 in
2005 and 12 cases in 2006.

The other states which reported child marriage cases in 2008 are:
Karnataka (9), Bihar (8), Punjab and West Bengal (6 each),
Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra (5 each), Haryana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
(4 each), Rajasthan (3), Himachal and Madhya Pradesh (2 each) and
Assam, Goa and Orissa (one each).

Child marriage is prohibited in the country under Child Marriage
Restraint Act of 1929.

As per the Act, a child is a person who, if a male, has not completed
21 years of age and if a female, has not completed 18 years of age.

According to the Act, for a child marriage, the parent or guardian
concerned may be punished with a simple imprisonment which may extend
to three months and a fine. Those who solemnise the wedding also face
the same punishment.

Similarly, a male above 18 years and below 21, entering into wedlock
with a child, shall be punishable with simple imprisonment which may
extend to 15 days or with fine which may extend to Rs 1,000 or both.

A male above 21 years marrying a child shall be punishable with simple
imprisonment which may extend to three months and shall also be liable
to fine.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gujarat-AP-top-list-of-child-marriages/articleshow/5742216.cms