Arunachal court rules child marriage void

Itanagar, Dec 12 (UNI) Declaring that marriage cannot be solemnised against the will of the parties, a district and sessions court has declared a child marriage null and void.

Kurung Kumey district and sessions judge Repo Ronya also made the district administration responsible for providing safe custody to Yumlam Yaku after she was handed over to the court by Arunachal Pradesh Women's Commission, official sources said here today. Yaku's father got her married to one Bengia Kami in her childhood. The girl continued her studies and after completing class-XII, she moved the court praying for release from child marriage. Citing the provisions of Child Marriage Act, 1929, the judge granted her freedom on December 7.

The historic judgment could rescue many such victims in various parts of this tribal state, where such practices are common.

Meanwhile, the meeting of village headmen, the 'gaon buras', at Nyapin, Yangte and Koloriang to bring awareness and eradicate such social evils has started yielding results.

More such meetings have been planned at Sarli, Damin, Parsi-Parlo, Pipsorang and Tali, while the headmen have also been directed to act sternly against child marriage, the sources added.

UNI UPB BA PA MIR RAI1321