Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Dec 11: Timely intervention by government officials on Monday December 11 stopped a child marriage.

The marriage ceremony of Prabhavathi's daughter, a resident of Perampalli, Shivalli here was scheduled to be held in the residence of a priest identified as Sreesha Bhat

Department of women and child development deputy director Gracy Gonsalves, tahsildar, police circle inspector, children department project supervisor, children protection unit officer and staff who received the information of the proposed child marriage went to the house of the concerned at 8 am on orders from the deputy commissioner to prevent the marriage.

All the preparations were done for the wedding and the girl's mother Prabhavati as well as relatives were present. The officials spoke to the mother, brother-in-law and sister-in-law explaining that marriage of a girl below the age of 18 years amounts to child marriage. They also informed them of the punishment as per law and the likely problems after such a marriage.

The officials confirmed that the date of birth of the girl as told by the mother and as per her Aadhaar card is January 7, 2001. The mother and the daughter were informed about the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. They took a written undertaking from the mother that she will not get her daughter married till she reaches the age of 18.

They later met the priest, Sreesha Bhat. The priest said that the parents of the girl had informed that the girl had reached marriageable age and would produce records to authenticate the claim. "Therefore, I agreed to perform the marriage. Now that I know that the girl has not completed 18 years, I know that it is illegal," he said.

A written statement has been obtained from the priest that he will solemnise marriages only after verifying the records and confirming the age of couples.