Fri Nov 08 21:03:38 UTC 2024: ## Allahabad High Court Declares 2004 Child Marriage Void, Orders Husband to Pay Wife Rs 25 Lakh
**Allahabad, India:** In a landmark ruling, the Allahabad High Court has declared void a marriage that took place in 2004, where the groom was 12 years old and the bride was nine. The court also ordered the man to pay his former wife Rs 25 lakh as compensation.
The decision came after the husband appealed a previous family court ruling dismissing his suit to declare the marriage void. The high court upheld the man’s right to file the suit, considering his age at the time and the legal limitations surrounding child marriage.
The court found that the family court erred in dismissing the case and declared the marriage null and void. The court stated that the husband was over 18 years old when he filed the suit and therefore had the right to do so.
The bench also pointed out that the legal limitation for challenging a child marriage extends until the age of 23. As the husband was under 23 at the time of filing the suit, the court determined the suit was filed within the stipulated time frame.
In addition to declaring the marriage void, the court ordered the former husband to pay Rs 25 lakh to his former wife within one month. The amount will accrue 8% interest if not paid by the stipulated deadline.
This decision reinforces the legal framework against child marriage in India and underscores the importance of protecting the rights of victims, particularly women, who are often subjected to such practices.
First Piper 