Court Annuls Child Marriage After 10 Years, Young Woman Reclaims Her Life

A Rajasthan court has annulled a child marriage imposed on a 12-year-old girl, marking a significant legal victory and offering renewed hope to victims of regressive social practices.

March 23 | Jodhpur In a landmark judgment, a family court in Jodhpur has declared a decade-old child marriage null and void, restoring the legal rights and personal freedom of a young woman who was forced into the union at the age of 12. The ruling is being seen as a major step forward in the fight against child marriage in India. The survivor, whose identity has been withheld and is referred to as Khushboo, was married in 2016 under traditional customs followed by the Bishnoi community. At the time, she was still in school and too young to understand the implications of marriage. As she grew older, pressure from her in-laws to cohabit prompted her to challenge the validity of the marriage.

With the support of social activist Kriti Bharti from the Sarathi Trust, Khushboo approached the court 18 months ago seeking justice. Family court judge Varun Talwar ruled in her favor, declaring the marriage void under the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006. In his observations, the judge emphasized that child marriage destroys both the present and future of children, and called for collective societal action to eliminate the practice. The court also rejected claims made by the husband’s family that the marriage had taken place after the girl had attained adulthood.

According to Bharti, the marriage was conducted during a traditional “mausar” ceremony, where such practices are sometimes carried out under social pressure. Families often prioritize customs over legal mandates to avoid community backlash. Now free from the marriage, Khushboo has resumed her education through open schooling and is preparing for her secondary examinations. She expressed determination to become self-reliant and build an independent future, marking a new beginning after years of struggle

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