Law steps in, issues injunction order to prevents two child marriages in Chhattisgarh's Koriya

RAIPUR: Two child marriages planned around akshaya tritiya in Chhattisgarh’s Koriya district were stopped through injunction orders issued by the district magistrate — in the first kind of intervention in the state, according to child rights workers.

The cases involved a 15-year-old girl who was to be married to a 22-year-old man, and a 17-year-old boy whose marriage was fixed with a 22-year-old woman. Both weddings were called off after legal intervention.

The action followed tip-offs received by NGO holistic action research and development, which first counselled the families along with anganwadi workers and district child protection officials. When the families refused to relent, the team approached the district magistrate, who issued urgent injunction orders halting the ceremonies.

In the first case, the girl belonged to a Cherva tribal family facing financial hardship. She had dropped out after Class X and was helping with household work. Her family reportedly believed marriage would reduce their burden.

In the second case, the 17-year-old boy had dropped out after Class VIII. Both his parents are persons with disabilities and saw the marriage as a way to bring additional help into the household. Officials said the family turned hostile when the team reached the venue and insisted on going ahead with the ceremony. The team was led by district child protection officer Ashish Kumar Gupta but the family refused to budge.

“They turned abusive and were determined to get their son married. We realised counselling alone would not work. The marriage was scheduled for later that day, so we approached the district magistrate and an injunction order was issued,” said said NGO director Sushil Kumar Sharma.

Following the orders, both families cancelled the weddings. The NGO and district administration are now working to link the families with welfare schemes, including disability certificates and allowances for the boy’s parents.

Child rights activists said the cases underline how counselling, welfare support and legal deterrence must work together to prevent child marriage. Ravi Kant, national convenor of Just Rights for Children, said timely legal interventions should become the norm rather than the exception.

Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, a district magistrate can function as a child marriage prohibition officer and issue injunctions to stop such marriages. Any marriage conducted in violation of such an order is void, and violating the order invites legal action.

According to NFHS-5, child marriage prevalence in Chhattisgarh stands at 12%, below the national average of 23.3%, though tribal-dominated pockets continue to report higher vulnerability.





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