Conflicting Claims Over Karnataka's Child Marriage Amendment Cause Legal Confusion
The Karnataka government's recent legislative effort to strengthen child marriage prohibitions has been mired in contradictory statements from top officials, creating significant uncertainty about its legal status. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes stringent penalties including two years' imprisonment even for the betrothal of minors, was passed by the state legislature. However, a clear divide has emerged between the minister responsible and department officers regarding whether it has actually become law.
Minister's Assertion Versus Department's Denial
Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar has firmly asserted that the amended legislation is already an Act, claiming that the governor has signed it into force. In stark contrast, officers from her own department maintain that the Bill remains pending and has not yet come into effect, stating it requires publication in the Karnataka Gazette to achieve Act status.
This bureaucratic contradiction was brought into sharp focus through a recent incident in Parishwad village, Khanapur taluk, where officials reportedly released a family with only a warning despite evidence of a ring ceremony involving a 16-year-old girl. The betrothal allegedly occurred on January 25, with families proceeding despite alerts from local anganwadi workers.
Case Details: Rescue and Controversial Release
Following a verbal complaint by child rights NGO Spandana Sansthe, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) rescued the minor girl on January 29 and placed her in Suraksha Children Home at Ganeshpur for counseling. However, in a controversial move, the girl was returned to her family on February 2—just three days after her rescue.
NGO members claimed the release followed political pressure, despite submitting photographic evidence showing the couple exchanging rings and garlanding each other in the presence of villagers and relatives. Chetan Kumar, deputy director of the women and child welfare department, explained the decision by stating the girl was sent back with a condition to appear before the CWC every two months until she turns 18.
Kumar further claimed there was no provision under existing law to initiate action against families for betrothal, emphasizing that "the amended Bill passed in the monsoon session is yet to get the status of an Act. It will become an Act only after it is published in the Karnataka Gazette."
Minister's Strong Response and Warning
When contacted about the discrepancy, Minister Hebbalkar reiterated her position that the amended law is already in force and that strict action could be taken against those arranging minor betrothals. She issued a strong warning regarding the Parishwad case, stating, "If the incident is true, I will suspend the officials concerned."
Separate POCSO Case Highlights Child Protection Issues
In a related development underscoring child protection concerns in the region, a POCSO court in Belagavi sentenced three youths to three years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each for molesting a minor girl in December 2024. The convicted individuals—Sachin Ram Singh Sahane (22), Vibisara Prasad Sahane (26), and Shubham Yadav (23) from Bharat Nagar—were found guilty of following the minor girl and making obscene comments on December 24, 2024.
The girl's parents filed a complaint with the APMC police station, leading to police investigation and submission of a report to the POCSO court. Justice CM Pushpalatha heard the case, with prosecutor LV Patil arguing for the government, resulting in Wednesday's verdict.
This legal confusion surrounding Karnataka's child marriage amendment creates significant challenges for enforcement agencies and child protection organizations, potentially undermining efforts to combat early marriages and betrothals across the state.
