The dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha has resulted in the lapse of a significant bill that sought to standardise the legal marriage age for men and women.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, introduced in December 2021, aimed to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, by raising the minimum marriage age for women to 21 years.
After its introduction, the bill was referred to the standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports, which was granted multiple extensions to review it.
Despite these efforts, the bill did not pass before the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, leading to its lapse, as confirmed by former Lok Sabha Secretary-General and Constitution expert P D T Acharya.
The proposed amendment also included provisions to override any conflicting laws, customs, or practices. Under the existing 2006 Act, individuals married below the legal age can seek annulment within two years of reaching adulthood, i.e., by the age of 20. The bill proposed extending this period to five years, allowing annulments until the age of 23.
With the election of the members of the 18th Lok Sabha, the previous parliamentary session was officially concluded, and the bill was not carried over, resulting in its expiration.
Follow us
