ALL INDIA
NO. 2253-
E , SHADI KHAMPUR, NEW RANJIT NAGAR,
NEW
DELHI-110008
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Email : aidwacec@gmail.com, aidwa@rediffmail.com
PRESS RELEASE
The AIDWA expresses its grave concern
at the judgement delivered by the Delhi High court regarding marriageable age
for Muslim girls, which in effect condones child marriage amongst them. Despite
scientific studies underlying 18 years as the suitable minimum age of marriage
for girls, the fact that the High Court has delivered this regressive judgement
invoking Muslim Personal Laws is a setback for women’s rights, and would impact
adversely on the muslim girls’ access to education, and increase her
vulnerability to maternal mortality and morbidity. While the question of
defending individual choice in marriage is important, the possibility of
informed consent by a 15 year old girl is by itself highly suspect and cannot
be upheld as a norm. The judgement sets an unfortunate precedent, which may
pave way for child marriages in India
in the guise of a girl’s consent. Moreover, Muslim Personal laws are not
codified in India
and vary according to interpretation. This judgement only underscores the need
for the codification of Muslim Personal Laws in India
in the absence of which many regressive practices are sought to be justified.
The HC has belied our hopes that the courts will help the process of gender
justice for all. AIDWA appeals to the Delhi High Court to review its verdict in
this regard.
Sd/-
Sd/-
Shyamali Gupta Sudha Sundararaman
(President) (General Secretary)
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