Can this child bride study further?

A school in east Delhi has refused re-admission to a minor girl after her marriage

A school in east Delhi has refused re-admission to a minor girl after her marriage

Teachers at her school might have shed tears for Anandi, protagonist of the popular television serial 'Balika Badhu', but for Mamta reality is harsher than the reel.

The 13-year-old, a resident of Shakarpur in east Delhi, was married to Tinku, 24, on March 24. Though her in-laws had assured Mamta's family that they would allow her to study further but the teenager's school administration had other plans.

When the standard seven student returned to her government school, the principal refused to admit her, saying a child bride would corrupt the minds of her fellow students.

"We have struck off her name from the school rolls and will not allow her to sit in the class as she can pollute the minds of other girls," said vice-principle of the Government Girls' Senior Secondary School, wishing not to be

u00a0Child act

According to The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 whoever performs, conducts or directs any child marriage shall be punishable withu00a0 simple imprisonment which may extend to three months and shall also be liable to fine unless he proves that he had reason to believe that the marriage was not a child -marriage.

named.

The families of Mamta and Tinku said they went ahead with the marriage only due to the insistence of the bride and the bridegroom, as they were head over heels in love with each other.

However, Mamta's in-laws had assured his father Rambhaj that they would let her continue with her studies at least till the senior secondary level. But now with the school authorities playing spoilsport, she might have to let go of her academic dreams.

Senior lawyer Ashok Aggarwal said: "Child marriage hardly matters when it comes to the education of a child. Every child below the age of 14 years has the constitutional right to pursue education."

April 1, 1930 Date on which the The Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 was enacted