Sun Jun 29 19:22:18 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Banswara district administration in Rajasthan, India, is implementing a new strategy to combat child marriage. With over 70% of its population comprising tribal communities, Banswara has a child marriage rate of 25%, higher than the national average. The administration is now making it mandatory to obtain an injunction order from the court for any reported or impending child marriage. This order, issued under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, empowers authorities to proactively prevent such marriages. The administration has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining the steps for intervention and enforcement, involving police, social justice departments, and child protection cells. Joint teams will respond to reports of child marriages, prepare detailed reports, and present families before a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, who will then request an injunction order from the Judicial Magistrate. This order will state that the girl and boy can only be married after reaching the legal ages of 18 and 21, respectively. Violation of this order will invite criminal action. The move is lauded by NGOs, who believe it will act as a strong legal deterrent.
**News Article:**
**Rajasthan District Cracks Down on Child Marriage with Mandatory Court Injunctions**
**BANSWARA, RAJASTHAN – JUNE 30, 2025** – In a groundbreaking move to combat the pervasive issue of child marriage, the Banswara district administration in Rajasthan has announced a new policy mandating court injunctions for all reported cases of impending or suspected underage marriages. The district, heavily populated by tribal communities, struggles with a child marriage rate significantly above the national average.
Under the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), any report of a potential child marriage will trigger an investigation by a joint team comprising members from the Women and Child Development Department, local police, and non-governmental organizations. These teams will gather critical information, including the ages of the prospective bride and groom, and present a report to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
The Magistrate will then formally request an injunction order from the Judicial Magistrate. This order, issued under Section 13(1) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, explicitly prohibits the marriage until both individuals reach the legal age of consent: 18 for women and 21 for men. Violation of the court order will result in criminal prosecution.
“This is a crucial step towards eradicating child marriage in our district,” stated Banswara Collector Indrajeet Yadav. “The injunction order serves as a binding legal directive, ensuring that families cannot circumvent the law and secretly conduct these marriages.”
Local NGOs are hailing the initiative as a significant victory. Yatin Upadhyay, Director of Beneshwar Lok Vikas Sansthan (BLVS), a partner of Just Rights for Children, emphasized the importance of the injunction order, stating that “this will act as a strong legal deterrent and instil fear of law, which is necessary to make Banswara district child marriage-free.”
While injunction orders have been used in the past in Rajasthan to prevent individual child marriages, Banswara’s initiative marks the first instance of an administration proactively seeking legal support as a widespread measure of social reform. The administration is conducting district-level training programs for officials to ensure effective implementation of the SOP. This proactive approach is hoped to significantly curb child marriages and protect vulnerable children in the region.
First Piper 