NEW DELHI:With the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, a significant legislative effort to equalize the legal marriage age for men and women has lapsed.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which aimed to bring uniformity in the age of marriage, was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2021. The bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports, which received multiple extensions over time.
According to former Lok Sabha Secretary-General and Constitution expert P. D. T. Acharya, "with the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the Bill has now lapsed."
The Bill proposed amendments to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, seeking to increase the minimum age of marriage for females to 21 years. Additionally, the Bill aimed to override any other law, custom, or practice related to marriage age.
Currently, under the 2006 Act, a person married below the minimum age can apply for annulment within two years of attaining majority (i.e., before 20 years of age). The lapsed Bill sought to extend this annulment period to five years (i.e., 23 years of age).
The 17th Lok Sabha was dissolved following the general elections that saw the members of the 18th Lok Sabha elected into office.
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