Thaindian News

Jaipur, April 6 (IANS) A child marriage between a seven-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, scheduled for April 12, was prevented after city police intervened and got restraining orders against the boy’s father, an officer said Wednesday.

Police say the child marriage that was to take place in Jaipur’s Chaksu area has been cancelled after they approached a local court here complaining against the parents.

“We have got a restraining order issued from a court against Badrinarayan Jaat, who was planning to marry off his son Vikas,” a police officer said.

“The parents knew that the administration had planned a massive vigil against child marriages on Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej) (May 6), so they were trying to conduct the marriage well ahead of the day clandestinely,” the police officer said.

He said that after a few villagers complained, a police team was rushed to the boy’s house and the parents were asked not to conduct the marriage.

“They have been told that child marriage is a crime and it can land them in jail. But to make sure, we also informed a chief judicial magistrate’s court as well. The court has summoned the parents on April 8,” said the officer.

The Rajasthan government has already warned of strict action against district administrations and police officials if they fail to check child marriages on Akshaya Tritiya (Akha Teej).

The day is considered highly auspicious for marriages. It falls on the third day after ‘amavasi’ (new moon) in the Hindu month of Vaishakha.

In a written direction to the district collectors and superintendents of police in each district, the state home department has asked them to keep strict vigil on child marriages on Akha Teej, which is a rampant practice in the rural areas of Rajasthan.