Latest news with #KarnatakaAmendment
New Indian Express
24-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karnataka cabinet approves bill to criminalise engagements of minors
BENGALURU: In a significant move to curb child marriage, the Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to make even engagements involving minors a punishable offence. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the Cabinet has cleared the proposal and the Bill will be introduced in the upcoming session of the legislature. The cabinet took note of the fact that nearly 700 child marriages were reported across the state during 2023-24. The decision follows a resolution passed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, where Deputy Commissioners of the districts and Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of Zilla Panchayats were directed to take stricter measures to prevent child marriages. This Bill sends a strong message that not only child marriage, but even betrothing a minor is unacceptable and will attract legal consequences, the Minister said. "We have brought radical changes socially. People who were escaping the legal action cannot get away. We are doing whatever best could be done to check child marriages," Patil said.
News18
24-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Karnataka cabinet approves bill to criminalise engagements of minors
Bengaluru, Jul 24 (PTI) In a significant move to curb child marriage, the Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to make even engagements involving minors a punishable offence. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the Cabinet has cleared the proposal and the Bill will be introduced in the upcoming session of the legislature. The cabinet took note of the fact that nearly 700 child marriages were reported across the state during 2023–24. The decision follows a resolution passed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, where Deputy Commissioners of the districts and Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of Zilla Panchayats were directed to take stricter measures to prevent child marriages. This Bill sends a strong message that not only child marriage, but even betrothing a minor is unacceptable and will attract legal consequences, the Minister said. 'We have brought radical changes socially. People who were escaping the legal action cannot get away. We are doing whatever best could be done to check child marriages," Patil said. PTI GMS GMS ROH Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
State drafts new bill to curb rising child marriages despite existing laws
Bengaluru: Alarmedby the rising incidence of child marriages in the state, the Karnataka government has drafted the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, aiming to plug gaps in existing legislation and enforcement. Despite awareness campaigns and annual action plans, state data shows a worrying upward trend in child marriages. According to the Department of Women and Child Development, Karnataka recorded 2,165 child marriages between 2021 and 2025. Notably, 1,416 of these cases occurred in just the past two years—since the current Congress government assumed office. In 2024–25 alone, 700 child marriages were reported, alongside 3,049 complaints. Authorities claim they successfully prevented 2,349 planned marriages. Shivamogga district topped the list with 79 confirmed cases, followed by Belagavi (78), Chitradurga (74), Bagalkote and Mysuru (60 each), and Mandya (57).Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed serious concern during a review meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs on May 31. He reportedly reprimanded officials for failing to prevent the practice and instructed the Law Department to draft a bill targeting not only the act of child marriage but also its preparation and engagement arrangements. The bill has received initial approval from the Women and Child Development Minister and is now under legislative scrutiny before being tabled. The state's move comes as a critical intervention to address what officials describe as a persistent and deeply rooted social evil.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka proposes to amend child marriage law, extend punishment for even engagement
The Karnataka government plans to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act to criminalise not only child marriages but also attempts and preparations for child engagements. A draft of the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes to insert new sections into the existing Act. 'Punishment for attempt and preparation to make child marriage or attempt and preparation to make engagement of a child,' reads Section 9A in the draft Bill. As per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, enacted by Parliament, the maximum imprisonment of two years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh are only applicable in cases of child marriage. The proposed Karnataka amendment extends the same provisions to child engagements, too. 'Whoever, make(s) an attempt and preparation to make child marriage, or attempt and preparation to make engagement of a child shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or both,' the draft Bill says. While section 10 of the existing Act relates to 'punishment for solemnising a child marriage', the amendments propose to change it to 'punishment for preparation and solemnising a child marriage'. The draft Bill was based on the directions issued during a meeting of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with deputy commissioners and chief executive officers of all districts on May 31. Noting the recurrence of child marriages in Karnataka, as around 700 cases were reported last year, more stringent regulations were proposed during the meeting, according to sources. Other changes include the insertion of section 12A in the parent law, which will render the engagement of a minor child null and void. Section 13(A), another proposed amendment, empowers courts to 'issue injunction prohibiting child engagement' to 'any person including a member of an organisation or an association of persons prohibiting such engagement'. The Bill is expected to be taken up in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Karnataka legislature.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After several missed deadlines, Thorat panel report on State Education Policy enters final lap
Bengaluru: With chief minister Siddaramaiah reaffirming his govt's commitment to a two-language policy in primary education, attention is back on the much-delayed State Education Policy (SEP) committee report. The panel is led by noted academician Sukhdev Thorat. After several missed deadlines, the panel was scheduled to submit its report in the second week of June. However, higher education minister MC Sudhakar said the committee will submit its final report later this month. "The tenure of the Thorat panel was extended considering the volume of study it had to carry out," said Sudhakar. "As the CM reiterated, we are committed to ensure school learning in our mother tongue." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Siddaramaiah's recent affirmation comes amid renewed debate on language policy, especially after Maharashtra put its three-language policy on hold. Eyes are also on President Droupadi Murmu, as The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2015, a legislation mandating mother tongue as the compulsory medium of instruction in primary schools, is pending assent. Siddaramaiah had met Murmu last week to press for speedy approval. "A two-language policy is an effective solution for the outrage in non-Hindi speaking states against attempted efforts by the Centre to impose Hindi on them," said Niranjanaradhya VP, development educationist who assisted in drafting the bill. "The amendment bill on the right of children to education is related to the language policy as well. We urge the President to give assent without delay." Meanwhile, pro-Kannada voices are growing louder. The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) plans to write to the CM reaffirming its support for a two-language policy, while several Kannada organisations under the umbrella of 'Namma Naadu, Namma Aalvike' have launched a statewide online campaign. "It is our firm belief that Kannada should have supremacy in Karnataka," said KDA chairman Purushothama Bilimale. "While we have already given our opinion to the Thorat committee, the KDA will yet again remind the CM of his commitment to the Kannada cause." Arun Javagal, vice-president, 'Namma Naadu, Namma Aalvike', said its online campaign is "designed to protect interests of Kannada and sister languages including Tulu and Kodava". "The response has been tremendous," he said.
