New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- w.The Supreme Court on Tuesday, August19, dismissed a plea filed by the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that upheld the validity of a 16-year-old Muslim girl's marriage under personal law and extended protection to her and her husband.

A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan ruled that the child rights body had no locus standi to contest the High Court's order, which was delivered in 2022.

The Supreme Court bench observed that the NCPCR was a "stranger to the litigation" and therefore could not challenge the relief granted by the High Court.

"Why should the NCPCR be challenging an order of the High Court granting pro...