Succumbing to the Muslim league’s pressure, the Kerala Government has voiced its opposition to the Centre’s proposal to increase the minimum legal age for marriage of women from 18 to 21 years. In a letter to the National Commission of Women, the State argued that since women attain voting rights at the age of 18, it is unfair to ask them to wait until they are 21 to get married.
The state also pointed out that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act has already established 18 years as the minimum age for consensual sexual relationships.
This decision came after the Women’s Commission directed the State Women and Child Development Department to express its opinion on the proposed bill to raise the minimum age of marriage for women. After deliberating on the matter, the official stance of the state was conveyed to the Commission.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani presented the Prohibition of Child Marriage Amendment Bill, 2021, which aims to standardize the marriageable age of men and women in Lok Sabha in December 2021. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Parliament Standing Committee and will come into effect only after being passed by both houses of Parliament and notified.
Several political parties, including Congress, CPM, CPI, and the Muslim League, have voiced their opposition to the proposed legal amendment. The Muslim League, in particular, claimed that the amendment was against Muslim Personal Law.
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