Section 11 — Punishment for promoting or permitting solemnisation of child marriages.

11. Punishment for promoting or permitting solemnisation of child marriages.—(1) Where a 

child contracts a child marriage, any person having charge of the child, whether as parent or guardian or 



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any other person or in any other capacity, lawful or unlawful, including any member of an organisation or 

association of persons who does any act to promote the marriage or permits it to be solemnised, or 

negligently fails to prevent it from being solemnised, including attending or participating in a child 

marriage, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years and shall also 

be liable to fine which may extend up to one lakh rupees: 

Provided that no woman shall be punishable with imprisonment. 

(2) For the purposes of this section, it shall be presumed, unless and until the contrary is proved, that 

where a minor child has contracted a marriage, the person having charge of such minor child has 

negligently failed to prevent the marriage from being solemnised.