Why special provision of child marriage not illegal: HC

Staff Correspondent: The High Court (HC) issued a rule asking the government to explain why the special provision of ‘Child Marriage Restraint Act-2017’ should not be declared illegal.

The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and JBM Hassan came up with the rule following a writ petition on Monday.

Secretaries of law and women and child affairs have been made respondents to the rule. They will have to reply within four weeks.

Rights organisations Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association and Nari Pokkho jointly filed the petition saying that the special provision which has allowed a girl under 18 and a boy under 21 to get married on permission from their parents or court. This provision is against the constitution as it is discriminatory.

risingbd/DHAKA/Apr 10, 2017/Mehedi/Amirul