Keep tab on child marriage during mass weddings: NCPCR tells UP & Rajasthan

New Delhi: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to principal secretaries of the Ministry of Women and Child Development of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, asking them to make sure that there are no cases of child marriage during mass weddings.

The move came after a child rights body received a complaint regarding eight

alleged child marriage cases that were reportedly solemnised during mass weddings in Agra.

The NCPCR, in a letter, asked the principal secretaries to direct police officers and district collectors to keep an eye on the mass weddings conducted by various organisations. "Officials should ensure that there are no cases of child marriage during mass weddings. Stern action should be taken against those involved in the violation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act," said Yashwant Jain,

member, NCPCR, and added that they would write to all states regarding the issue.

According to the NCPCR, on November 8, a mass wedding event was organised in Agra. "Commission got a complaint that during the event eight suspected cases of child marriage were solemnised. The age group of six girls and two boys need to be probed," NCPCR letter revealed.

The child rights body asked the principal secretaries to take action against the charitable trust if those eight turn out to be minor.