Bengaluru, August 18, 2025: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the Child Marriage Prohibition (Amendment) Bill on Monday, presented by Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar. The bill introduces stringent measures to combat child marriage, a persistent social issue in the state, with the goal of eradicating it at the grassroots level.

Speaking after presenting the bill, Hebbalkar highlighted the severity of child marriage as a social evil that successive governments and laws have struggled to eliminate. She noted that in 2024-25, the Women and Child Development Department identified 1,828 child marriage cases, successfully preventing 1,460 of them. However, 369 cases still occurred, leading to the filing of FIRs. The minister emphasized the department’s commitment to rooting out the practice entirely.

Under the amended law, stricter enforcement will be applied, including legal action against those involved in arranging child engagements. Offenders face a penalty of ₹1 lakh and up to two years of imprisonment. “Our department’s primary objective is to eradicate child marriage at its core,” Hebbalkar stated, underscoring the need for robust measures to protect young girls and boys from early marriages that hinder their education and well-being.

The passage of the bill marks a significant step in strengthening Karnataka’s legal framework to address child marriage, aligning with broader efforts to promote gender equality and child welfare.