The recent proposal by the Law Commission to prohibit marriages below 18 years of age and its recommendation to bring up a legislation declaring all marriages between those below 16 years of age as void is a step in the right direction towards abolishing the menace of child marriages. The suggestion that registration of all marriages irrespective of the couple’s caste and religious affiliations be made compulsory in all states will act as strong deterrent against such illegal practices.
However, the proposal to bring down the marriageable age for both boys and girls from 21 to 18 years does not appear to be a logical one. Though there is no scientific reason as to why there should be any disparity in their ages, the mid-twenties could be considered a mature age for a normal Indian youth to enter into wedlock and be comfortable with the onerous task of shouldering the responsibility of managing a family and other household affairs.
PACHU MENON
Goa
Retrograde step
Sir,
The proposal of the Law Commission to reduce the marriage age for boys from the existing 21 to 18 is a retrograde one and should not be accepted by the government.
The country is struggling to contain the increasing population and we have such funny proposals. The Commission has totally missed the point in stabilising our growing population and the enormous pressure exerted on the existing resources by the unbridled population explosion.
Their other proposal for compulsory registration of marriages in all states irrespective of the couples’ caste and religious affiliations , however, needs to be pursued vigorously for early implementation!
V Padmanabhan
Bangalore
Good move
Sir,
This is with reference to the news item Govt. mulls total privatisation of water (DH, Feb 8). It is a good move. With the mismanagement in the distribution of drinking water by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), this will bring about a welcome change.
If the government feels it would affect the slum populace, they can introduce card system like the public distribution system. The government should go ahead and introduce the privatisation of water distribution.
Hemachandra Babu D
Bangalore
Interference
Sir,
It is disgusting to read that the recent appointment of Sudhakar Rao as the Karnataka Chief Secretary has been challenged by another IAS officer. I do not know the merits of the challenge but I am saddened to see that, apparently, political influence is brought to bear in the appointment of the highest office in the government. When will the people start protesting against such political interference?
N V Suryanarayana
New York
Domestic violence
Sir,
With reference to the news article, Domestic violence against man exposed, (DH, Feb 8), it is a well known fact that women are as capable of violence against others as men are. It is unfortunate that the domestic violence act is pro-women and assumes that men are never the victims of violence.
It is heartening to know that the honourable court has taken cognisance of the matter.
The act goes against all principles of natural justice and holds every man a criminal and hence guilty until proven innocent.
Law commission recommendations
