Ban on child marriage applies to all, irrespective of religion: Kerala High Court
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has ruled that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, is applicable to all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation. The court stressed on the responsibility of every individual to alert the child marriage prohibition officer if they become aware of any child marriage.
This ruling came as the court dismissed a petition filed by Moidutty Musliyar of Puthukode and four others, who sought to quash a criminal case against them under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. The prosecution alleged that the first accused had conducted the marriage of his minor daughter to the second accused in accordance with Islamic religious tenets and rites.
The third and fourth accused are the president and secretary of the Hidayathul Islam Juma Masjid Mahal committee. The case was registered following a complaint from a member of the Muslim community.
The petitioners argued that the first petitioner’s daughter, being a Muslim, had the religious right to marry upon reaching puberty, which they claimed was at the age of 15. However, the court rejected this contention, reiterating that the Act applies universally.
The court also highlighted the role of print and visual media as platforms to amplify voices against child marriage.
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Double-decker electric bus gutted in fire at Kurla BEST depot
Mumbai (PTI): An empty double-decker electric bus was gutted in a fire during servicing at a BEST depot in Mumbai's Kurla area on Sunday, officials said, adding that nobody was injured.
The blaze broke out inside the Kurla BEST bus depot near Kanakia Building at 4.14 pm, according to preliminary information from the Mumbai Fire Brigade.
The parked bus was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
Fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. The exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, they said.
No injuries were reported in the incident, officials added.
The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has hired 50 electric double-decker buses from Switch Mobility in its fleet of around 2,700 buses.
