Himachal Assembly session: Sukhu govt to table bill raising marriage age for girls to 21
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Shimla: Himachal Pradesh is poised to increase the legal marriage age for girls from 18 to 21 years, with the state Assembly expected to pass the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill-2024 in its monsoon session on Tuesday (August 27, 2024). Once passed, the amendment will be sent to the Governor for approval, marking a significant shift in the state’s approach to child marriage laws.
Currently, the legal marriage age for girls across the state, and the country as a whole, is 18 years. The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government is seeking to raise this age by three years to align with broader efforts to protect and empower young women. The state cabinet has already given its nod to the revised draft of the bill.
Social Justice Minister Dhaniram Shandil emphasised the importance of this change, stating that increasing the marriage age will provide girls with greater opportunities to pursue education and career development.
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“At present, some girls are married off at a young age, which hampers their education and future prospects,” said Shandil. “By raising the marriage age, the government aims to protect them from malnutrition and the health risks associated with early motherhood. This step will also help women advance in their careers.”
The current legal marriage age in India stands at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. However, the move to raise the marriage age for girls has historical precedence. Under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, the marriage age was initially set at 18 years for boys and 15 years for girls. This was revised in 1978, with the marriage age for girls raised to 18 years and for boys to 21 years.
The proposed amendment in Himachal Pradesh is a step towards further aligning these standards, ensuring that girls have equal opportunities to mature physically, emotionally, and socially before entering into marriage. As the bill awaits passage in the Assembly and subsequent approval by the Governor, it signals a progressive shift in the state’s commitment to gender equality and the welfare of young women.
