Child Marriage Prevention Officer.-

(1) The State Government may, by notification, appoint an officer to be the Child Marriage Prevention Officer for the whole state or for such part thereof as may be specified in the notification.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Child Marriage Prevention officer,-

(i) to prevent marriages being performed in contravention of the provisions of this Act by taking such action under this Act as he deems fit;

(ii) to collect evidence for the effective prosecutions of persons contravening provisions of this Act; and

(iii) to discharge such other functions as may be assigned to him by the State Government.

(3) The State Government may, by notification invest the Child Marriage Prevention Officer with such powers of a Police Officer as may be specified in the notification and the Child Marriage Prevention Officer shall exercise such powers subject to such restrictions and conditions as may be specified in the notification.

(4) The State Government may associate with each Child Marriage Prevention Officer a non-official advisory body consisting of not more than five Social Workers, of whom at least two shall be women workers known in the area within the jurisdiction of the officer, for the purposes of advising and assisting him in the performance of his duties and discharge of functions under this Act.

(5) Terms and conditions of appointment of persons on the advisory body shall be such as may be prescribed.