State legislative interventions actively restrict child marriages to secure the physical, psychological, and educational rights of minors.
1. Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA)
The PCMA replaced the older, toothless Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 to provide robust prevention and prosecution:
- Statutory Ages (Section 2): Defines a "child" as a male who has not completed 21 years of age, and a female who has not completed 18 years of age.
- Status of Child Marriage (Section 3): Every child marriage is voidable at the option of the party who was a child at the time of the marriage. The petition for nullity must be filed in the district court within 2 years of the child attaining majority (i.e. by age 20 for females, 23 for males).
- Completely Void Marriages (Section 12): A child marriage is null and void *ab initio* if the minor is abducted, sold, trafficked, or married in violation of an injunction order.
2. Other Key Interventions
- Sati Commission (Prevention) Act, 1987: Enacted to absolutely prohibit and penalize the custom of self-immolation of widows (Sati) and any glorification of it.
- Polygamy Limits: Under the Hindu Marriage Act, monogamy is strictly enforced. Under Muslim Law, polygamy up to four wives is permitted but highly discouraged, and subject to secular controls (like maintenance duties).