Let boys marry at 18 - Law Commission

Law Commission proposed Wednesday to lower the legal age for marrying to 18 for boys - the same as for girls. In two reports presented to union Law Minister H.R. Bhardwaj, the commission proposed that the government must amend laws and reduce the marriageable age for men from 21 to 18.

It also recommended that registration of marriages should be made compulsory in all states.

The commission has proposed that marriages between young adults between the ages of 16 and 18 be made "voidable" - wherein the girl and boy can fight to make their marriage legal.

Marriages of boys below 16 years would be declared "void", it said.

Commission member Kirti Uppal said the panel has proposed that the age for sexual consent be raised from 15 years to 16 for girls, regardless of marriage.

If the government accepts the proposal, even consensual sex with girls below 16 years would invite punishment for boys - or males.

Sex with wife below 15 years is now already a punishable offence under section 375 of the Indian Penal Code.

In a safeguard clause for women in "void" and "voidable" marriages, the commission has recommended that they be entitled to maintenance and custody for themselves and their offspring.

The commission found that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), did not make a child marriage invalid. But under criminal law, section 375 of IPC, it is a crime to have sex with a child - boy or girl - below 15 years.