Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Protection of Children From Sexual Offences

Criminal200622 sections

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, bans child marriages across India, applying to almost all Indian citizens. It defines a child as a female under eighteen or a male under twenty-one. This law matters because it empowers individuals to legally annul their underage marriages, secures custody and maintenance for offspring, and imposes strict criminal penalties on adults who marry children or facilitate these unions. By appointing specialized officers to prevent illegal weddings and permitting courts to halt impending ceremonies, the act protects vulnerable minors from exploitation and safeguards their fundamental human rights, physical health, and overall future wellbeing.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 0. Preamble
  2. 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
  3. 2. Definitions.
  4. 3. Child marriages to be voidable at the option of contracting party being a child.
  5. 4. Provision for maintenance and residence to female contracting party to child marriage.
  6. 5. Custody and maintenance of children of child marriages.
  7. 6. Legitimacy of children born of child marriages.
  8. 7. Power of district court to modify orders issued under section 4 or section 5.
  9. 8. Court to which petition should be made.
  10. 9. Punishment for male adult marrying a child.
  11. 10. Punishment for solemnising a child marriage.
  12. 11. Punishment for promoting or permitting solemnisation of child marriages.
  13. 12. Marriage of a minor child to be void in certain circumstances.
  14. 13. Power of court to issue injunction prohibiting child marriages.
  15. 14. Child marriages in contravention of injunction orders to be void.
  16. 15. Offences to be cognizable and non-bailable.
  17. 16. Child Marriage Prohibition Officers.
  18. 17. Child Marriage Prohibition Officers to be public servants.
  19. 18. Protection of action taken in good faith.
  20. 19. Power of State Government to make rules.
  21. 20. Amendment of Act No. 25 of 1955.—In the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, in section 18, for clause
  22. 21. Repeal and savings.

PDF: pending for this language.