The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has advised authorities and the public not to rely solely on Aadhaar cards to verify the legal age of individuals before marriage.
Aadhaar is only an identity document and should not be treated as conclusive proof of age in cases of marriage registration or child marriage prevention, said the commission.
The advisory comes amid increasing concerns that inaccurate or outdated birth information in Aadhaar records can lead to disputes over the legal age of brides and grooms. Errors in identity documents can also lead to loopholes, making it difficult to prevent underage marriages, child rights experts have emphasized.
According to the Commission, officials involved in marriage registration, child welfare, and law enforcement should verify age using multiple authentic documents instead of solely using Aadhaar. These include birth certificates issued by local authorities, school leaving certificates, or records maintained by government departments.
Such cross-verification can help ensure marriages comply with the legal minimum age prescribed under Indian law.
The advisory also underscores the necessity of preventing child marriages, which are still an issue in a number of parts of the country despite strict legal frameworks in place. More careful verification of documents should be undertaken by authorities in rural and vulnerable communities where documentation discrepancies are more common.
Child rights activists welcomed the recommendation, stating that having multiple records will reduce the possibility of forged or inaccurate age proofs being used to facilitate illegal marriages.
Proper age verification is important not only for compliance with the law but also for protecting children from abuse, early pregnancies, and the long-term social and economic adverse impact of child marriage.
According to Indian law, the legal minimum age of marriage is 18 years for women and 21 years for men. Any marriage between people under these ages may be subject to legal action under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
Local authorities and district authorities are expected to intervene whenever credible evidence suggests that a child marriage is being planned or conducted.
The Karnataka Child Rights Panel’s latest advisory serves as a reminder that technology-based identity documents can complement not replace official birth records and educational certificates when determining age for legal purposes.
Improved documentation systems and greater public awareness can help to enhance efforts to eliminate child marriage at the national level.
As we continue to fight child marriage in India, the Commission’s recommendation highlights the importance of robust verification mechanisms to ensure that the welfare and rights of children are safeguarded.
The advisory will help in enforcing the strictness of the law and ensure marriages are conducted only after proper verification of age through reliable and legally recognized documents.
