Welcoming the Madras High Court's recommendation for increasing the legal marriageable age for girls from present 18, NDA ally PMK today urged the Central and state governments to enact a law to implement it.
A division bench of Madurai Bench comprising Justices S Manikumar and V S Ravi had yesterday made the suggestion while saying how girls could be considered mature enough at 18 for marriage when marriageable age for boys was fixed at 21.
The court suggested amendments to the Indian Majority Act 1875 and the Child Marriage Restraint Act so that the issue of the minimum age of marriage for girls could be addressed.
Welcoming the court's views, PMK founder leader Ramadoss expressed concern that "love marriage dramas" with an intention of "extorting money from the bride's families" had of late increased.
Implementing the court's views would prevent such fake episodes and recalled his party's long time demand for increasing the age of marriage to 21.
Even a judgement of the Karnataka High Court on May 12, 2011 had also expressed views similar to that of the Madras High Cout.
"Hence, the state and central governments should come forward to bring a legislation and implement all the recommendations of the Madras High Court," he added.
