Sushmita Dev, the lone female in 31-member panel to examine bill to raise women’s marriage age

Jan. 2: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sushmita Dev is the only woman in the 31-member parliamentary panel assigned to examine the bill which seeks to raise the legal age of marriage for women to 21. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, which will have wider influence over society especially females, was introduced in Lok Sabha during the winter session and referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports.

According to the members’ list of the parliamentary standing committee, led by senior BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, available on the Rajya Sabha website, TMC MP Sushmita Dev is the only woman among the 31 members. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports is a Rajya Sabha administered Committee. Expressing her views, Sushmita Dev said, “I wish there were more women MPs in the committee but having said that we will make sure all interest groups are heard.”

The Bill seeks to amend seven personal laws – the Indian Christian Marriage Act; the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act; the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act; the Special Marriage Act; the Hindu Marriage Act; and the Foreign Marriage Act. Once enacted, the Bill will supersede existing marriage and personal laws.

At present, the minimum age of marriage for men is 21 and for women is 18. The bill seeks to increase the legal age of marriage of women to 21.