A Public Interest Litigation was dismissed by the Supreme Court which sought a judicial order to lower the marriageable age of men from 21 to 18. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi imposed a fine of Rs 25,000/ on the petitioner lawyer Asok Pande saying that there was no public interest in the petition.
Mr.Panda argued that while a man could vote or join the army at the age of 18, they should be also able to marry at 18. He challenged the provisions of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, the Special Marriage Act and the Hindu Marriage Act which prescribed the minimum age for marriage for men at 21. He said that these laws were violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. However the Court did not accept his contentions and his PIL was dismissed with costs.
