Supreme Court Grants Protection To Minor Girl Forced Into Child Marriage To Settle Debts

The Supreme Court today(June 18) granted police protection to a minor girl from Bihar who escaped from a forcible marriage, and to her friend who helped her escape.

The minor with her friend ran off after the former was allegedly married to a 33-year-old contractor based in Bihar, Jai Shankar, as a repayment of the financial debts owed by her parents to him. The petitioner, a 16-year-old girl, also seeks annulment of her marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. She has alleged physical abuse at the hands of the Contractor, Respondent No. 4 and has approached the Supreme Court along with her friend, who now faces kidnapping charges.

A bench comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan ordered the Director General of Police, Bihar and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to provide security to the petitioner and her friend and file a status report on the next date of hearing. 

The Court ordered: "Heard learned counsel for the petitioner. This writ petition has been filed by a minor through her next kin under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. Petitioner has alleged that she has been forcibly married off to Respondent No. 4 despite the fact that she is a minor. She has not got the parental support required at this stage. On the other hand, the Respondent no. 4 and has family members are now pursuing the petitioner and her next kin, it is in these circumstances that the petitioner has approached this court seeking the following reliefs...Issue notice. We direct Director General of Police, Bihar as well as Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to provide full security to the petitioner to ensure that no harm is caused to the petitioner and her next friend. We further direct to issue necessary instructions to the police authorities to be in touch with the petitioner and her next friend. In case of any emergency, necessary assistance can be provided. Respondent No. 1 and 2 submit separate status report in sealed cover to the Court by next date. List on 15.7.2025."

Case Details: |W.P.(C) No. 589/2025

Related -  Read Supreme Court's Guidelines Against Child Marriages

Appearances: Advocate Abhishek Rai and AoR Vivya Nagpal

Click Here To Read Order