Officials prevent child marriage in Udupi district

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Dec 12, 2017: Udupi  government agencies on order from DC Priyanka Mary Francis prevented child marriage at Perampalli in Shivalli village in Udupi city municipal limits on Dec 11,Monday.

The marriage of minor daughter of Prabhavathi was scheduled to be held at the house of Shreesha Bhat. A team of officials headed by Grace Gonsalves, deputy director, department of women and child welfare visited the marriage house and stopped the same.


It is stated that the house was set for the event and the bride’s mother too was present at the venue. "We called aside the mother, her brother and his wife, and other immediate relatives and informed that marrying a girl before she turned 18 would attract provisions of The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act," she said, adding the stakeholders in this entire exercise were also explained about what legal troubles awaited them if they went ahead in solemnizing the event.


A perusal of date of birth certificate and Aadhar card of the ’bride’ indicated that she was born on January 7, 2001 and thus a minor. "We again impressed on Prabhavathi and her daughter on the provisions of the Act," Grace said, adding the officials also obtained an undertaking that the marriage will be solemnized only after she turned 18. The team met Shreesha Bhat, the priest, who said the parents assured to provide documents certifying she was of marriageable age.


Shreesha said he agreed to solemnize the marriage as per rituals on request from the bride’s mother and her assurance that the bride had attained the legal marriageable age. The priest also admitted that he is aware of the provisions of the above act and that it is an offence for any girl below 18-years to enter in to wedlock. He also gave an undertaking to the officials that henceforth he would doubly check the age of the bride and groom as s essential under law.