Child Rights Panel Urges Karnataka to Tighten Marriage Registration Age Verification Rules
Karnataka Child Rights Commission has urged the government to strengthen marriage registration by making birth certificates and school records mandatory alongside Aadhaar to prevent child marriages across the state
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has urged the state government to strengthen the marriage registration process by ensuring that Aadhaar is not treated as the sole proof of age. The commission believes stricter verification procedures are essential to prevent child marriages and ensure compliance with existing laws.
In a formal communication to the Registration and Stamps Department, the commission has requested the strict implementation of the Child Marriage Prohibition Rules 2014. It has recommended that marriage registration officials be directed to verify multiple age related documents before approving any registration.
According to the commission, relying only on Aadhaar during marriage registration increases the possibility of underage marriages being officially recorded. To eliminate such risks, authorities have been asked to make birth certificates, school records, or SSLC marks cards mandatory for confirming the age of both individuals seeking marriage registration.
The commission has also suggested that medical age verification certificates be accepted in cases where standard documents are unavailable or additional verification is required. Officials have been asked to follow clear guidelines while confirming an applicant’s age to avoid any misuse of the registration process.
Former commission member K T Tippeswamy, speaking on behalf of the panel, explained that Aadhaar primarily serves as an identity document and should not be considered the final or most reliable proof of age. He pointed out that the date of birth recorded on an Aadhaar card may be based on self declared information or supporting documents that may not always establish age with complete accuracy.
For this reason, the commission has advised registration officers not to depend solely on Aadhaar while processing marriage applications. Instead, they should cross verify the applicant’s age using official educational or birth records before completing the registration process.
The panel further emphasized that preventing child marriage is a shared responsibility involving government departments, registration officials, and society as a whole. It has called for strict action against officials who fail to follow prescribed rules and has also recommended awareness and training programs for registration staff to ensure they understand the legal requirements and verification procedures.
The commission believes that introducing stronger documentation standards during marriage registration will help reduce the incidence of child marriages while improving transparency and ensuring that legal safeguards protecting minors are effectively enforced across Karnataka.
