Child marriage valid if ‘child’ doesn’t declare it void at 18: Punjab and Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court division bench has ruled that a child marriage would become valid if no steps are taken by the ‘child’ to declare the marriage void on attaining the age of 18.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court division bench has ruled that a marriage contracted with a minor female, less than 18 years of age will not be a void marriage but a voidable one, and that it would become valid if no steps are taken by the ‘child’ to declare the marriage void on attaining the age of 18.

The ruling comes after a couple who got married in February 2009 approached the High Court to appeal against the judgment of the Ludhiana court which had rejected divorce to the husband and wife on the grounds that their marriage was not a valid marriage as the wife was under-18 when the marriage was solemnized in 2009.