CWC to decide on pregnant minor girl

The high court has ordered the child welfare committee to take care of a 15-year-old pregnant girl from Whitefield, East Bengaluru, who had eloped with and married a man from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh.

Police produced the girl before the court following a habeas corpus petition filed by her father. After their "marriage", the girl's "husband" had moved a local court and got an order of protection from her parents.

The father approached the high court, requesting that the police be ordered to produce his daughter. Police tracked down the girl and produced her before the court.

Taking note of the girl's pregnancy, the court observed that her health was of paramount importance and that it was the responsibility of the state government to provide all welfare measures to protect her and the foetus as per the law.

While the girl expressed the wish to go with her parents, the court felt it was up to the child welfare committee to take a decision in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.