West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announces POCSO prosecution and suo motu FIRs against husbands if wives become mothers before age 18.
Updated: September 7, 2026, 11:56 PM IST
Share Article
https://www.india.com/news/india/west-bengal-cm-makes-strict-statement-on-child-marriage-says-husbands-to-face-pocso-charges-if-wife-becomes-mother-before-18-8519119/
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a strict crackdown on child marriage and underage pregnancies, stating that husbands of girls who become mothers before reaching 18 years of age will face criminal prosecution under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) ActCriticizing the previous Trinamool Congress administration for high rates of child marriage and teenage childbirths in the state, the Chief Minister confirmed that the state government will directly register suo motu cases against offenders to enforce strict legal action.
The previous Trinamool Congress government is responsible for thisSo, henceforth, strong legal action will be taken under the POCSO Act against the husbands of girls who conceive before the age of 18The government will file suo motu cases in such matters.
Read more:
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Kolaghat due to bad weather
The culprit can be imprisoned for a maximum of 20 yearsThey will also be deprived of all government opportunities and social welfare allowances.” He also said that the priests or Kazis performing rituals of marriage between underage brides and grooms will also not be sparedThe administration will also take action against the guardians concerned“From January 1, 2016, to June 30 this year, about 60,000 girls under the age of 18 became mothersMurshidabad tops the list.
During that period, 12,847 girls from the district became mothers before attaining the age of 18Next on the list is South 24 Parganas, where 4,178 girls under the age of 18 became mothers,” the Chief Minister addedHe informed that the State Health Department provided him with this information.
“The law under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 specifies the prevention of child marriagesThe number of child marriages is so high that there are not even enough jails in the state to house all those who are guilty on this countBut still, we will not allow this to continueWe will make arrestsWe have to stop all these social evilsWe will launch a bigger campaign on this issue in the coming days,” CM Adhikari said.
(With inputs from agencies)
