Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development introduced Prohibition of Child Marriage Amendment Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha on December 2021 Tuesday.
The bill has proposed to increase minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years.
While moving the bill Smriti Irani said, “I would like to present that woman equality in our country needs to be seen in age of marriage. Invoking different marriage laws of different faiths, I rise to introduce the amendment bill.”
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, Asaduddin Owaisi, Saugata Roy raised their objections in the lower house of the parliament.
Adhir said that government did not discuss the amendment bill with stakeholders. He suggested that Standing Committee should review the amendment bill.
In response Smriti Irani said, “After so many years of Independence, men and women need equal rights in matrimony. This amendment gives equality top men and women in allowing both to marry at 21. Our research shows that 21 lakh child marriages had to be stopped and many underage girls were found pregnant. So you are stopping women from their right to equality.”
Owaisi said, “This is against fundamental rights. A 18 year old cannot get married but she can vote? What is your ‘beti bachao programme’ about?”
Saugata said, “The minorities are totally opposed to the bill and stakeholders need to be consulted.”
Gogoi said, “Even the law commission had objections to the bill so it should be sent to the standing committee.”
After that Parliament got adjourned.
