Parental Consent Could Become Mandatory For Marriage Below 21 Years?

Love and union have been a hot topic of contention in Indian society, particularly regarding the role of approval and consent from families. Recently, the political party Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) stated in its newly released manifesto, "Parents approval for marriages of people below the age of 21 would be made mandatory." The party, which is part of the BJP-led alliance claimed that the proposed law will preserve the well-being of the young adults as well as the traditional family structure. The PMK, led by Anbumani Ramadoss, had made the same poll promise during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

Ramadoss emphasised that the law would prevent young adults from 'falling for the staged love.' In a press conference, the politician said that the law keeps in mind the well-being and safety of young adults, especially women, who might put a hold on their education and career goals after marrying at such a young age. 

Is The Law Necessary?

PMK founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss stated in the Lok Sabha 2024 election manifesto that parental approval would be made mandatory for those planning on getting married before the age of 21. The political leaders reflected on the mandate by the Karnataka High Court which delves into the same rule.

"The Karnataka High Court has also emphasised the same. To prevent young women from falling for the staged love, to protect the family system and to protect the future of the teenagers, parents' approval for marriages of people below the age of 21 would be made mandatory,” the PMK manifesto read.

In India, the topic of legal marital age for men and women is an ongoing debate. The parliament has been scrutinising the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to advocate for the increase in women's legal marital age from the current 18 years to 21 years. While the implementation of the Bill continues to be delayed, the PMK's law could bring a glimpse of hope.

If the proposed law is brought into action, it could bring significant progress towards women's safety and health. In Indian society, maternal mortality, a halt to women's education and financial independence, marital rape, and domestic violence are some of the issues that continue to plague women even in 2024. 

PMK leader A. Ramadoss reflected in a press conference, "For a woman, 18 years is such a young age. It is just a year after she completes her schooling and enters college for higher education. I look at an 18-year-old also as a child and if they get married at 18, there is no future and her education is also stopped."

He continued, "Soon, she will carry a baby at 18 and two at 20. I have seen many young mothers like this. They suffer nutrition deficiency and other issues." He opined that the legal age for marriage should be 21 years. “Until that is made, we can make this arrangement (mandatory approval of parents)," he said. 

Considering these factors, the proposed law mandating parental approval could serve as a crucial step towards addressing the pervasive issues that young women face in marriage. At an age when even drinking is not legal, expecting individuals to make crucial decisions like marriage and family planning without the consultation of parents could be harmful.

However, on the flip side, the PMK's law could hinder consenting adults from making autonomous decisions. In India, even people well into adulthood are often restricted from marrying the person of their choice. This has led to burning issues like honour killings, dowry harassment, and more. Ultimately, governing the institutes of marriage and family should consider these competing interests while upholding principles of fairness and respect for individual rights.