Consultation process underway: Govt to HC

THE WCD MINISTRY TOLD THE DELHI HIGH COURT THAT THE LAW MINISTRY SHOULD ALSO BE MADE A PARTY TO THE PIL

NEWDELHI: The Centre on Wednesday told the Delhi high court that it is in the process of consultations with the stakeholders in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Upadhayay seeking uniform marriageable age for both men and women.

The Union women and child development (WCD) ministry told a bench of chief justice DN Patel and justice C Hari Shankar that the Union law ministry should also be made a party to Upadhayay’s PIL as it relates to the marriage law and falls under the latter’s purview. “The [WCD] ministry is in the process of consultations with the stakeholders in the matter for amendment in the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006,” the Centre said in its response to the court.

Monika Arora, the Centre’s counsel who appeared for the WCD ministry, sought more time from the court to file a detailed response to the PIL.

The PIL has contended that the difference in the minimum age of marriage for men and women was based on patriarchal stereotypes and has no scientific backing. Arora sought time to seek comments from the law ministry and to give a combined response on the next date of hearing.

Following this, the court posted the matter for hearing on February 19. The PIL challenges “a blatant” and discriminatory minimum age limit for marriage for men and women.