Karnataka's Bold Step Against Child Marriage

The Karnataka cabinet has approved a bill to curb child marriage by making engagements involving minors a punishable offense. With nearly 700 cases reported in 2023-24, the bill aims to send a strong message against child marriage. The proposal will be introduced in the legislature's upcoming session.

The Karnataka cabinet has taken a significant step to combat child marriage by approving the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill proposes to make engagements involving minors a punishable offense, reflecting the government's commitment to protecting children's rights.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil announced that the cabinet has cleared the proposal, and it will be introduced in the next session of the legislature. This move comes after a disturbing report of nearly 700 child marriages in the state during 2023-24.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a high-level meeting was held, involving Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs, to push for stricter measures. The new bill aims to send a clear message that the state will not tolerate child marriage or engagements involving minors.