Between April 2017 and March 2022, theKarnatakagovernment received complaints or tip-offs about 10,352 attempts of child marriage and 9,261 (about 90%) were prevented. In all, 860 FIRs were registered against people involved in getting minors married or at least tried it in the same period.
Experts and officials point out that most child marriages occur largely due to POVERTY, illiteracy, superstition or to ease what elders see as their burden of having a girl child.
Data of the Karnataka Women and child development department shows that 1,091 child marriages actually took place.
According to sections 9 and 13 of the Act, if the girl is a minor, then the man will be charged with a penalty and severe imprisonment. Sections 10 and 11 provide for imprisonment of at least 1-2 years for those supporting and encouraging such marriages aside from a penalty of Rs 1 lakh.