New Delhi: After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said he would urge Governor Kalraj Mishra to re-examine the controversial Marriage Amendment Bill 2021, the state government on Monday decided to withdraw the bill.
Citing concerns that its provisions may encourage child marriage, Gehlot said the state government would urge the governor to return the bill for legal consultation.
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The bill was passed in the Rajasthan Assembly on September 17 amid objections from opposition BJP MLAs who walked out of the assembly. According to new reports, after the bill was passed, an NGO challenged the amendment in the bill in the Rajasthan High Court.
The Rajasthan Compulsory Registration of Marriages (Amendment) Bill 2021 makes it mandatory to register all marriages, even if a girl is below 18 years and a boy is below 21 years. The statement and purpose of the amendment bill states that if the couple has not completed the legal age of marriage, the parent or guardian will be responsible to submit a memorandum within a stipulated period.
According to a PTI report, while addressing an event on International Day of the Girl Child, Gehlot said, “There has been a controversy in the country that this law will encourage child marriage. We decided that it is not a question of our prestige. We will request the Governor to return the law we have passed.”
He said that after legal consultation with the lawyers, it would be considered whether to take the Bill forward or not. Gehlot said that it is the resolve of the government that child marriage should not take place in Rajasthan at any cost.
“I want to assure you that I will not settle on that. We will get it re-examined and if we deem it necessary then we will pursue it or we will not pursue it. We have no problem,” the chief said. . The minister said.
Despite the ban on child marriage, the state has been reporting such cases for years. Gehlot said the Supreme Court had made it mandatory for every marriage to be registered after which the Bill was introduced and passed. He said that legal opinion was taken earlier and the government will take it forward so that child marriage never takes place in Rajasthan.
He said, “The Supreme Court said that the marriage should be registered, whoever it is. In view of this, a bill was passed in the assembly, but a controversy arose that this law would encourage child marriage.”
In a tweet, he said, “The state government is working with a strong will for the complete eradication of child marriage in the state. We are determined that child marriage should not take place in the state and the government will not compromise. In this regard. “
While passing the bill, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal had said in the assembly that the proposed law allows registration of marriages but nowhere does it state that these marriages will eventually become valid. The minister said that if there is indeed a child marriage, the district collector and the concerned officer would be able to take necessary action against the families.
Dhariwal said the couple can also register their marriage, provided they inform their family within 30 days.
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