SC to hear plea of NCPCR on child marriage

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list for hearing a plea of child rights body NCPCR seeking an authoritative pronouncement on a vexed legal question whether a secular law on prohibition of child marriage will prevail over the Muslim personal law.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta the plea of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) be heard on priority basis keeping in mind the different views being expressed by various high courts on the issue of child marriage.

Some high courts are taking note of the personal laws on the issue and conflicting judgments are being rendered and may lead to filing of several special leave petitions (SLPs) in the top court, the law officer said.