THECHILDMARRIAGERESTRAINTACT,1929

CONTENTS

PREAMBLE.
1 Shorttitle,extentandcommencement
2 Definitions
3 [Omitted]
4 Punishmentformaleadultabovetwentyoneyearsofagemarryingachild
5 Punishmentforsolemnisingachildmarriage
6 Punishmentforparentorguardianconcernedinachildmarriage.
7 Imprisonmentnottobeawardedforoffencesundersection3
8 JurisdictionunderthisAct
9 Modeoftakingcognizanceofoffences
10 PreliminaryinquiriesintooffencesunderthisAct
11 [Omitted]
12 PowertoissueinjunctionprohibitingmarriageincontraventionofthisAct

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THECHILDMARRIAGERESTRAINTACT1929
1ACTNO.XIXOF1929.

[1stOctober,1929]

AnActtorestrainthesolemnisationofchildmarriages

WHEREASitisexpedienttorestrainthesolemnisationofchildmarriagesItisherebyenacted
asfollows:__

1.Short title, extent and commencement.__ (1) This Act may be called the Child Marriage
RestraintAct,2[1929].
3[(2)ItextendstothewholeofPakistanandappliestoallcitizensofPakistanwherevertheymay
be.]

(3)Itshallcomeintoforceonthe1stdayofApril,1930.
42.Definitions.InthisAct,unlessthereisanythingrepugnantinthesubjectorcontext,__

(a)childmeansapersonwho,ifamale,isunder18yearsofage,andifafemale,isunder
5[sixteen]yearsofage

(b)childmarriagemeansamarriagetowhicheitherofthecontractingpartiesisachild

(c)contractingpartytoamarriagemeanseitherofthepartieswhosemarriageis 6[oris
abouttobe]therebysolemnized*7

(d)minormeansapersonofeithersexwhoisundereighteenyearsofage[]8

9[(e)UnionCouncilmeansUnionCouncilorTownCommitteeconstitutedunderthelaw
relatingtolocalgovernmentforthetimebeinginforce.]

1 ForStatementofObjectsandReasons,seeGazetteofIndia,1927,Pt.v,p.28forReportsofSelectCommittees,seeibid.1928,Pt.v,pp.111and165.
TheActhasbeenappliedtophuleraintheExcludedAreaofUpperTanawaltotheextenttheActisapplicableintheN.W.F.P.,andextendedtotheExcludedAreaofUpperTanawal
(N.W.F.P)otherthanphulerawitheffectfromsuchdateandsubjecttosuchmodifications,asmaybenotified,seeN.W.F.P.(UpperTanawal)(ExcludedArea)LawsRegulation,1950.
IthasalsobeenextendedtotheLeasedAreasofBaluchistan,seetheleasedAreas(Laws)Order,1950(G.G.O.3of1950),andappliedintheFederatedAreasofBaluchistan,see
GazetteofIndia,1937,Pt.I,p.1499.
2 Subs.bytheRepealingandAmendingAct,1930(8of1930),s.2and1stSch.,for1928
3 Subs.bytheCentralLaws(StatuteReform)Ordinance,1960(21of1960),s.3and2ndSch.(witheffectfromthe14thOctober,1955),fortheoriginalsubsection(2),asamended
bytheChildMarriageRestraint(Amdt.)Act,1938(7of1938),s.2,A.O.,1949,andtheFederalLaws(RevisionandDeclaration)Act,1951(26of1951),s.8.
4 TheSection,insofarasitappliestotheMuslimcitizensofPakistan,hasbeenamendedbytheMuslimFamilyLawsOrdinance,1961.(8of1961),s.12(witheffectfromthe15th
July,1961).
5 Subs.bytheMuslimFamilylawsordinance,1961(8of1961)s.12,forFourteen,(witheffectfromthe15thJuly,1861).
6 Ins.bytheChildMarriageRestraint(SecondAmdt.)Act,1938(19of1938),s.2.
7 Thewordsandomittedibid.,(witheffectfrom15thJuly,1961).
8 Subs.ibid,forfullstop.
9 Subs.bytheFederalLaws(RevisionandDeclaration)Ordinance,1981(27of1981),s.3andSch.,II,forclause(e),whichwaspreviouslyamendedbyOrd.8of1961,s.12.

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 3.[Punishmentformaleadultbelowtwentyoneyearsofagemarryingachild]Omittedbythe
MuslimFamilyLawsOrdinance,1961(VIIIof1961),s.12.

14. Punishment for male adult above twentyone years of age marrying a Child. Whoever,

being a male above 2[eighteen] years of age, contracts a child marriage shall be punishable with
simpleimprisonmentwhichmayextendtoonemonth,orwithfinewhichmayextendtoonethousand
rupees,orwithboth.

5.PunishmentforSolemnisingachildmarriage.Whoeverperforms,conductsordirectsany
childmarriageshallbepunishablewithsimpleimprisonmentwhichmayextendtoonemonth,orwith
finewhichmayextendtoonethousandrupees,orwithboth,unlessheprovesthathehadreasonto
believethatthemarriagewasnotachildmarriage.

6. Punishment for parent or guardian concerned in a child carriage.__ (1) Where a minor
contractsachildmarriage,anypersonhavingchargeoftheminor,whetherasparentorguardianorin
anyothercapacity,lawfulorunlawful,whodoesanyacttopromotethemarriageorpermitsittobe
solemnised,ornegligentlyfailstopreventitfrombeingsolemnised,shallbepunishablewithsimple
imprisonment which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to one thousand
rupees,orwithboth:

Providedthatnowomanshallbepunishablewithimprisonment.

(2)Forthepurposesofthissection,itshallbepresumed,unlessanduntilthecontraryisproved,
that where a minor has contracted a child marriage, the person having charge of such minor has
negligentlyfailedtopreventthemarriagefrombeingsolemnised.

7. Imprisonment not to be awarded for offences under section 3. Notwithstanding anything

containedinsection25oftheGeneralClausesAct1897(Xof1897),orsection64ofthePakistan
Penal Code 1860 (XLV of 1860), a Court sentencing an offender under section 3 shall not be
competent to direct that, in default of payment of the fine imposed, he shall undergo any term of
imprisonment.

8.JurisdictionunderthisAct.Notwithstandinganythingcontainedinsection190oftheCode
ofCriminalProcedure1898(Vof1898),noCourtotherthanthatof3***a4[Magistrateofthefirst
class]shalltakecognizanceof,ortry,anyoffenceunderthisAct.

5[9. Mode of taking cognizance of offences. No Court shall take cognizance of any offence

underthisAct,6[exceptonacomplaintmadebytheUnionCouncil,orifthereisnoUnionCouncilin
the area, by such authority as the Provincial Government may in this behalf prescribed, and such
cognizanceshallinnocasebetaken]aftertheexpiryofoneyearfromthedateonwhichtheoffence
isallegedtohavebeencommitted.]

1 TheSection,insofarasitappliestotheMuslimcitizensofPakistan,hasbeenamendedbytheMuslimFamilylawsOrdinance,1961.(8of1961),s.12(witheffectfromthe15th
July,1961).
2 Subs.byOrd.8of1961,s.12,forTwentyone.(witheffectfrom15thJuly,1961).
3 ThewordsaPresidencyMagistrateoromittedbyA.O.,1949.
4 Subs.bytheChildMarriageRestraint(SecondAmdt.)Act,1938(19of1938),s.3,forDistrictMagistrate.
5 Subs.ibid.,s.4,fororiginals.9.

Thesection,insofarasitappliestotheMuslimcitizensofPakistan,hasbeenamendedbytheMuslimFamilyLawsOrdinance,1961(8of1961),s.12(witheffectfromthe15 th July,
1961).
6 Ins.bytheMuslimLawsOrdinance,1961(8of1961),s.12,(witheffectfrom15 th July,1961).

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 10. Preliminary inquiries into offences under this Act. The Court taking cognizance of an
offence under this Act shall, unless it dismisses the complaint under section 203 of the Code of
CriminalProcedure1898(Vof1898),eitheritselfmakeaninquiryundersection202ofthatCode,or
directaMagistrateofthefirstclasssubordinatetoittomakesuchinquiry.

111. [Power to take security from Complainant.] Omitted, by the Muslim Family Laws

Ordinance,1961(VIIIof1961)s.12(w.e.f15thJuly,1961).

2[12. Power to issue injunction Prohibiting marriage in contravention of this Act.__ (1)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, the Court may, if satisfied from
informationlaidbeforeitthroughacomplaintorotherwisethatachildmarriageincontraventionof
thisActhasbeenarrangedorisabouttobesolemnised,issueaninjunctionagainstanyofthepersons
mentionedinsections3,4,5,and6ofthisActprohibitingsuchmarriage.

(2) No injunction under subsection (1) shall be issued against any person unless the Court has
previouslygivennoticetosuchperson,andhasaffordedhimanopportunitytoshowcauseagainst
theissueoftheinjunction.

(3)TheCourtmayeitheronitsownmotionorontheapplicationofanypersonaggrievedrescind
oralteranyordermadeundersubsection(1).

(4) Where such an application is received, the Court shall afford the applicant an early
opportunity of appearing before it either in person or by pleader and if the Court rejects the
applicationwhollyorinpart,itshallrecordinwritingitsreasonsforsodoing.

(5)Whoeverknowingthataninjunctionhasbeenissuedagainsthimundersubsection(1)ofthis
sectiondisobeyssuchinjunctionshallbepunishedwithimprisonmentofeitherdescriptionforaterm
whichmayextendtothreemonths,orwithfinewhichmayextendtoonethousandrupees,orwith
both:

Providedthatnowomanshallbepunishablewithimprisonment.]

1 Thesection,insofarasitappliestotheMuslimcitizensofPakistan,hasbeenomittedbytheMuslimFamilyLawsOrdinance,1961(8of1961),s.12(witheffectfromthe15 th July,
1961).
2 Subs.bytheChildMarriageRestraint(SecondAmdt.)Act,1938(19of1938),s.5,fortheoriginalsubsection(1).

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