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The Prevention of Child Marriage Bill, 2004 introduced in the Rajya Sabha on the 20th December, 2004 and pending therein, has been referred to Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, headed by Shri E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, M.P. for examination and report.
The Bill aims to prevent solemnization of child marriages in the country. The existing Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, amended in 1949 and 1978, though restrains such solemnization, it does not declare them to be void. Responding to a growing demand to make the Act more stringent and effective, the Central Government after consulting the State Governments and Union Territory administrations and taking into cognizance the recommendations of the National Commission for Women and National Human Rights Commission made to this effect, has decided to repeal the existing Act and enact a new law.
The main features of this Bill inter-alia include declaring child marriage as void, provision of maintenance by the groom’s side to the minor girl until her remarriage, provision for legitimacy, custody and maintenance of children born out of such marriages, appointment of Child Marriage Prevention Officers by State Governments and empowering State Governments to make rules for effective administration of the legislation.
The Committee has decided to invite memoranda containing views of individuals/organizations, interested in the subject-matter of the Bill and to hear oral evidence on the subject.
Those desirous of submitting Memoranda to the Committee may send two copies (either in English or Hindi) thereof to Shri Surinder Kumar Watts, Deputy Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, 007, Ground Floor, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001 (Tel: 23034262 and Fax 23013917) within fifteen days of publication of this advertisement, indicating whether they would also be interested in giving oral evidence before the Committee.
The Memorandum which might be submitted to the Committee, would form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as confidential and would not be circulated to anyone, as such an act would constitute a breach of privilege of the Committee.
The Bill was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 2, dated the 20th December, 2004. Its copies can be had on written request to the above-mentioned officer.
RCP/AS/070205-Suggestions-ChildMarriageBill
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