HP passes Bill raising girls’ marriage age to 21

Current Context : Himachal Vidhan Sabha passed The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2024, to enhance the marriageable age of girls from 18 to 21 years.

• Objective : to provide gender equality and opportunities of obtaining higher education.
• Applicable to : all persons domiciled in the territory of Himachal, also contained in the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936, the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, or any other law or custom or usage or practice in relation to marriage.
• Bill introduced by : Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil
• Passed by the House through a voice vote.
• The bill will now be sent to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla for assent. If approved by the Governor, Himachal Pradesh will be the first state to enact this significant legislation.