Date:08/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100854270600.htm

Karnataka

Probe sought into marriage of minors

Special Correspondent

25 per cent of the 1,935 couples were minors: Ugrappa
‘Chief Minister and his colleagues have become abettors’

BANGALORE: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa has urged the State Government to order a judicial inquiry into the alleged marriage of minors at a mass marriage programme at Gadag where Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and several Ministers blessed the couples.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ugrappa said that 1,935 bridegrooms and brides tied the nuptial knot, but 25 per cent of them were minors.

Strangely, the Government announced cash incentive to the couples, thus encouraging child marriage, which was an offence under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, he added.

He said that the Department of Women and Child Welfare was involved in getting the eligible age of the boys and girls certified, but it engaged dentists instead of expert doctors under the law for the purpose, resulting in wrong assessment of the age of the couples.

Thus, he said that all those, who attended and blessed them, had become “abettors” to an offence and liable for punishment.

Mr. Ugrappa criticised the contradictory statements of the Ministers on the extent of power cut in the State.

The Government, he said, had failed to bring down the loss of power due to theft, pilferage and during transmission and distribution, which was put at around 37 per cent.