State government to ensure no child marriages take place on Akshaya Tritiya: Khanna
Saturday, 04 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Geeta Khanna approached the State government to ensure that no child marriages take place in the State on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. She said this in response to a recent order issued by the Rajasthan High Court stating that village heads will be responsible for stopping child marriages in Rajasthan on Akshaya Tritiya. Following this order of the court, similar demands are emerging nationwide for stringent measures to be implemented in other states as well. Considering this, Khanna said that the Rajasthan High Court’s order is groundbreaking and will have significant implications. It is a rare instance in the country where the Panchayati Raj system has been endowed with the authority to ensure that Sarpanches fulfill their duty of preventing child marriages within their area of jurisdiction. Khanna further urged all district magistrates in the State to take similar actions.
She further emphasised the need for accountability from local leaders in mobilising communities to safeguard children, citing a recent Rajasthan High Court ruling.
It is pertinent to mention here that child marriages especially on Akshay Tritiya are almost unheard of in Uttarakhand. Child marriages are known to occur among members of some communities throughout the year but the SCPCR and other authorities concerned have not been able to take any concrete action to prevent this so far.
