Team comprising officers of various departments constituted to prevent child marriage on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on May 10, 2024- DC Yash Garg
DC appealed to the residents of the district to give information about child marriage
Panchkula - Deputy Commissioner, Sh Yash Garg said a team comprising officers of various departments has been constituted to prevent child marriage on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on May 10, 2024. He said that there is a possibility of organizing mass child marriages on this day which is a punishable offence . This type of marriage is considered illegal and invalid, he added.
Sh Garg said that a team comprising ACP Panchkula, Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, District Elementary Education Officer, Chairman Child Welfare Council and officials of Labor Department has been constituted to prevent child marriage on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.
He said that whoever performs, conducts, directs or abets any child marriage will be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years and will be liable to fine which may extend to one lakh rupees. He said that information about child marriage in the district can be given to the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer of the Women and Child Development Department or on helpline numbers 181, 112 and 1098. Stern action would be taken against those found guilty, he added.
The Deputy Commissioner said that many religious and social programs are organized on the auspicious day Akshaya Tritiya and there is also a possibility of organizing mass child marriages on this day. He said that marriage of a girl below 18 years of age and a boy below 21 years of age is a cognizable and non-bailable offence. He said that child marriage not only has a adverse effect on the health and nutrition of a child but it also promotes harassment and exploitation. He said that child marriage eliminates opportunities for children's education and economic empowerment and also increases maternal mortality rate.
The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the residents of district Panchkula that if they got any information about the child marriage, they should immediately inform the same at child helpline number 1098, police helpline number 112 and women and child development department helpline number 181 so that child marriage could be averted and action could taken against those involved in this illegal act.