The bill making the minimum age of marriage of girls in Himachal Pradesh 21 years has been passed in the assembly. The Himachal Pradesh Child Marriage Prohibition Bill, 2024, making the marriage age of girls 21 years, has been passed.
In the monsoon session on Tuesday, Health, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhaniram Shandil introduced the Child Marriage Prohibition (Himachal Pradesh Amendment Bill, 2024). This bill was passed unanimously without any discussion. Now this bill will be sent to the Governor for approval.
Presenting this bill in the assembly, Health and Women Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that the provision of Child Marriage Act, 2006 was made to stop child marriage. It has become necessary to increase the minimum age of marriage of girls to provide gender equality and opportunities to get higher education.
He also said that pregnancy at a young age also has an adverse effect on the health of girls. There is a proposal to increase the minimum age of marriage of girls to 21 years by amending the Child Marriage Act 2006 and related acts in the state.
After the signature of the Governor, the minimum age of marriage of girls in the state will be increased from 18 years to 21 years. The state government is preparing to increase the marriage age of girls by three years. Its revised draft was approved by the state cabinet seven months ago. The amendment bill was passed in the House today.