New Delhi, Jun 8: With the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which aimed to raise the legal marriage age for women, has lapsed. Introduced in December 2021, the bill was referred to the standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports. The committee was granted multiple extensions over time to review the bill.
Former Lok Sabha Secretary-General and Constitution expert P. D. T. Acharya confirmed that the bill has lapsed due to the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha. The proposed amendment sought to increase the minimum age of marriage for females to 21 years, aligning it with the legal age for men. Additionally, the bill intended to override any existing laws, customs, or practices that contradicted the new age requirement.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, currently allows individuals married below the legal age to apply for annulment within two years of reaching adulthood, which is before turning 20 years old. The amendment aimed to extend this period to five years, allowing annulment applications until the age of 23.
The 17th Lok Sabha was officially dissolved following the election of the 18th Lok Sabha members during the general elections. As a result, the legislative process for the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, will need to be restarted in the newly constituted Lok Sabha for it to be reconsidered.
