Kolkata, Sept. 7 -- West Bengal's under-18 marriage and delivery figures of pregnant teen mothers is alarmingly high, said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and added that in the past six months, between Jan and June, 2026, there had been almost 60000 such deliveries in hospitals.

"West Bengal has emerged as the country's top state in under-18 marriage and teenage childbirth, with government data for the first six months of 2026 revealing an alarming concentration of cases in several districts, particularly Murshidabad," he said.

"The data shows 12,847 cases in Murshidabad alone between January 1 and June 30. Of these, 12,585 were from rural areas and 262 from urban areas. South 24-Parganas followed with 4,178 cases and followed by East Burdwan," he added.

The age profile of the Murshidabad data is particularly concerning, the CM said. "Twenty cases involved girls aged 10-13, while 817 were in the 13-15 age group and 6,527 between 15 and 18. Another 5,483 cases involved those recorded as 18 years old. In South 24 Parganas, five cases were in the 10-13 age group, 244 in 13-15, 1,969 in 15-18 and 1,960 at 18." While Malda recorded 3,777, West Midnapore 3,220, North Dinajpur 2,940 and Nadia 2,925."

Other districts reporting high numbers included Rampurhat (2,391), Purulia (2,116), Basirhat (2,014), North 24-Parganas (1,961), Cooch Behar (1,940), East Midnapore (1,884), Birbhum (1,873) and Diamond Harbour (1,806) deliveries by teenage mothers.

The CM said the data indicated that 53% of cases involving those below 15 were from the Muslim community, with the proportion remaining above 53% among those aged 15-17 years. The CM stressed that enforcement would be done strictly in a religion-neutral manner.

He said that the government would intensify its crackdown on child marriage and hold husbands and others facilitating such marriages accountable. "Husbands would be required to establish within a month that their wives were 18 or above, failing which police action would follow," he said.

Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, marriage involving a girl below 18 or a boy below 21 is prohibited. Those marrying, conducting, promoting or facilitating such marriages can face imprisonment and fines.

The CM warned that sexual activity involving a minor can attract stringent provisions of the POCSO Act, under which offences are cognizable and punishments can be jail for 20 years or life imprisonment, or can even amount to the death penalty.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.