Rama Krishna Sangem
Following Rajasthan High Court’s ban orders on child marriages, the Spandana Cultural Organisation for Progressive Education ( SCOPE) in Sangareddy of Telangana along with its various partner NGOs under the aegis of Just Rights For Children Alliance are now urging respective state governments to follow the suit and ensure that no child marriages take place during this Akshaya Tritiya.
The Rajasthan High Court has also directed that Panchs and Sarpanchs (village heads) be made accountable if they fail to prevent child marriages from being solemnized. The order comes after a PIL was filed by Just Rights For Children Alliance and others who sought urgent intervention so that thousands of child marriages scheduled around Akshaya Tritiya can be prevented from being held.
“A report should be called from the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer with regard to child marriages which had taken place in his jurisdiction and the efforts taken by him in preventing the same,” the division bench comprising Justices Shubha Mehta and Pankaj Bhandari said in the order passed just about 10 days before Akshaya Tritiya.
The division bench comprising Justices Shubha Mehta and Pankaj Bhandari also directed the authorities to keep a ‘hawk’s eye’ on a masked list provided by the petitioners which lists 54 child marriages which have been/will be held on Akha Teej. While 46 of the child marriages are yet to take place, remaining have already been solemnized. The High Court has also ordered that the state should ensure that the scheduled marriage of the 46 children from the list should not take place.
Child marriages heinous crime
Bhuwan Ribhu, Founder, Just Rights for Children Alliance said, “Child marriage is the most pervasive and heinous crime that is socially acceptable in our community. It is a landmark step by the Rajasthan High Court that affixes responsibility of reporting such marriages on the panchs and sarpanchs, and it is only with their participation and understanding that action against this crime will lead to behaviour change for the protection of children. T
Just Rights for Children Alliance is a nationwide coalition of 120 NGOs working on child protection issues such as child sexual abuse, child marriage and child trafficking.
This court ruling underscores the need of holding local leaders responsible and rallying communities to safeguard our children. While we continue our grassroots efforts and awareness campaigns, judicial interventions like this will further bolster our fight against child marriage.” Spandana Cultural Organisation for Progressive Education ( SCOPE)in Sangareddy of Telanagana.
