In a stringent move to eradicate the social evil of child marriage, the Hingoli district administration in Maharashtra has issued a sweeping order making all wedding service providers legally accountable. District Collector Rahul Gupta has directed priests, decorators, caterers, marriage hall operators, photographers, band groups, and printers to mandatorily verify the age of the bride and groom before providing any service for weddings or pre-wedding ceremonies like engagements.
Service Providers to Act as First Line of Defence
The directive, issued under Section 13(5) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, states that any service provider found facilitating a child marriage, directly or indirectly, will be booked as a co-accused in the case. "Anyone playing a role in a child marriage will be made a co-accused," Collector Rahul Gupta told TOI.
The order makes it compulsory for these vendors to collect valid, attested documents proving the bride is at least 18 years old and the groom is 21. They must refuse service and immediately inform authorities like the child marriage prohibition officer, sarpanch, or Childline 1098 if either party is a minor. The administration has assured the confidentiality of informants.
Religious Institutions and Mandatory Registration Included
In separate letters, the collector brought religious leaders and institutions firmly under this framework. Managers and trustees of religious places, along with priests, maulvis, pastors, and other functionaries, must also verify ages before solemnizing any marriage. Religious leaders or institutions facilitating underage marriages will face action under Sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Act.
Furthermore, the collector has ordered that registration of every marriage will now be mandatory. In urban areas, municipal councillors and chief officers will ensure compliance, while in villages, police patils, gramsevaks, and sarpanches will be responsible. Municipal councils and gram sabhas have been directed to pass resolutions committing to the prevention of child marriages.
A Persistent Social Problem with Grave Consequences
The detailed circular notes that child marriage remains a serious social problem in the district with far-reaching consequences. It adversely affects the physical, mental, educational, and social development of children, especially girls, leading to higher risks of maternal and infant mortality, school drop-outs, and long-term economic dependence.
Despite strict laws, incidents persist in rural, remote, and even some urban pockets of Hingoli due to social customs, poverty, ignorance, seasonal migration, and deep-rooted traditional beliefs. As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-20, Hingoli ranked fifth in Maharashtra for the prevalence of child marriage. The district's child sex ratio of 882, as per Census 2011 data, is also a significant concern for the administration.
Copies of age documents collected for any marriage or engagement booking must be submitted to the district women and child development department and the Collector's office, creating an auditable trail to enforce these groundbreaking measures.
