In Brief
This landmark judgment addresses the enforcement failure of India's Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 despite its enactment nearly two decades ago. The Supreme Court held that child marriage violates constitutional rights to free choice, autonomy, health, education and childhood under Article 21. The Court identified systemic failures including inadequate appointment of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers, weak law enforcement, insufficient prosecution and lack of comprehensive prevention mechanisms. The judgment issued extensive guidelines prioritizing prevention over penalization, requiring dedicated CMPOs, specialized police units, awareness campaigns, educational support, technology-driven reporting, and community engagement. The Court recognized child marriage as a human rights violation affecting girls disproportionately while also acknowledging harm to boys, and suggested Parliament outlaws child betrothals and clarifies that PCMA overrides personal laws.
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