SC protection for 16-yr-old forced to marry 33-yr-old man
New Delhi, June 19 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday stepped in to protect a 16-year-old girl from Bihar who alleged she was forcibly married to a man twice her age and later subjected to abuse, ordering protection for the girl and her friend who helped her escape the marriage and now faces a kidnapping charge.
A bench of justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan directed the Director General of Police, Bihar, and the Delhi Police Commissioner to ensure the safety of both the girl and her friend. They were also asked to provide them with emergency contact numbers to be used in case of any exigency.
The girl approached the top court through her friend, seeking annulment of the marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and protection from any coercive action. According to the petition, the girl had recently taken her Class 10 board exams when she was married off on December 9, 2024, under pressure from her family. The groom, a civil contractor aged about 33, allegedly insisted on the marriage as repayment for financial support extended to her family.
The plea states she was immediately sent off with her husband after the ceremony and was not allowed to return home, despite promises that she could come back in two days. Her in-laws repeatedly told her that they wanted a child and that too much money had been spent on the wedding to reverse it. As per the plea, the girl was told she would not be allowed to continue her studies. The petition alleged repeated physical and emotional abuse by the husband, especially after she resisted physical intimacy. She remained distressed until mid-January 2025, when her maternal uncle persuaded her in-laws to let her visit her parental home. Even there, the girl claimed, her requests to terminate the marriage and pursue her education were ignored. On March 31, she left her home and sought help from her friend. He agreed to accompany her to Varanasi. The two have been on the run since, fearing for their lives....
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