Awareness programme to warn against child marriages held in Kurnool

 Kurnool: A man who marries a minor can be jailed for up to two years, fined Rs one lakh or both, under the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, said District Legal Services Authority secretary Ch. Venkata Naga Srinivasa Rao on Saturday.

Speaking during an awareness session at the Nyaya Seva Sadan, Rao said it is mandatory for girls to be above 18 years of age and for men to be above 21 years of age in order to get married. Parents and relatives who are involved in the marriage of minors may also be subject to rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs one lakh, he said.

Explaining the legal implications surrounding child marriages, Rao elaborated about the Child Marriage Act, 2006, POCSO Act, 2012, and the amendments made to it in 2019. He spoke about the punishment for those marrying minors, indulging in adultery with them, arranging child marriages or even attending them.

Lok Adalat president M. Venkata Harinath, child welfare committee chairperson Zubeda Begum, CDPO-Urban P. Anuradha, Kodumur, CDPO Varalakshmi, DCPO T. Sharada, Juvenile Home superintendent M. Hussain Basha and others participated in the event.