Karnataka Govt Drafts New Child Marriage Bill, To Punish Not Just Solemnisation But Also Preparation

The Karnataka government has drafted the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, to tackle the high number of child marriages in the state—around 700 cases reported last year.

Acting on directions from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s meeting with deputy commissioners and CEOs of all districts on 31 May , the government seeks to strengthen the existing law, reported The Indian Express.

The proposed amendment aims to criminalise not just child marriages but also any attempt or preparation for child engagements. The draft inserts new sections into the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. It states: “Punishment for attempt and preparation to make child marriage or attempt and preparation to make engagement of a child,” under Section 9A.

Under the 2006 Act, offenders face up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1 lakh for conducting a child marriage. Karnataka’s amendment extends this to child engagements.

The draft Bill specifies: “Whoever, make(s) an attempt and preparation to make child marriage, or attempt and preparation to make engagement of a child shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or both.”

The amendment also proposes changing section 10 from “punishment for solemnising a child marriage” to “punishment for preparation and solemnising a child marriage.”

Additionally, it introduces section 12A to declare child engagements null and void and section 13(A) to empower courts to “issue injunction prohibiting child engagement” against anyone involved.

The Karnataka legislature is expected to consider the Bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session.

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