Kathmandu, April 12 -- On the evening of February 11, police officers from the District Police Range in Kathmandu apprehended a young girl from Lainchaur in Kathmandu. She was 15 years and six months old.

Crucially, the law enforcement officers had no prior authorisation from any judicial authority to take the minor into custody. Instead of seeking a court order, Police Sub-Inspector Kamal Thapa Chhetri issued an 'urgent warrant of arrest' on the spot. "You are being arrested immediately in connection with a polygamy offence," the arrest warrant read.

Under existing legal provisions, children below 16 are ineligible to even open a bank account on their own accord. The accused girl possessed no citizenship certificate. She was legally ba...