Married at 12, freed after 9 years: Jodhpur woman breaks decade-long child marriage through court verdict

JODHPUR: A woman has reclaimed her life after a court annulled a marriage she was forced into as a child, ending a decade-long union and offering hope to others caught in similar customs.On Thursday, Family Court judge Varun Talwar declared the marriage of Taniya (name changed) void, stressing that child marriage harms both the present and future of children and must be eradicated through collective social effort.The marriage, performed in 2016 when she was around 12, was annulled under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.From the Bishnoi community, Taniya recalled being a school-going child with little understanding of the ceremony, as elders arranged the marriage in line with tradition.

Decisions were largely dictated by custom, leaving her parents with limited say. Only later did she realise she had been tied to a relationship she neither chose nor understood.The turning point came when her in-laws began pressuring her to start conjugal life. Refusing to accept the situation, she approached the police and was later connected with activist Kriti Bharti of the Sarathi Trust.With support, she filed a petition about 18 months ago seeking annulment.

She presented proof of her age at the time of marriage, countering claims from her in-laws that both parties were adults. The court ruled in her favour.Bharti noted that securing agreement from the groom’s side was difficult, citing deep-rooted customs and social pressures that often deter families from challenging such practices.The case also highlights traditions like mauser (Mrityubhoj), where multiple child marriages may take place during communal gatherings after a death in the family. Activists say fear of social boycott often forces families to comply despite legal prohibitions.Now free from the marriage, Taniya—who had dropped out after Class 7—has resumed her education through open schooling and is preparing for her secondary exams, determined to become self-reliant.(With PTI inputs)