Rajasthan: Girl approaches court 12 years after her child marriage

Photo for representational purpose

After suffering for 12 long years subsequent to marriage at the age of seven, 18-year-old Mansi Gurjar has finally summoned courage to initiate steps to annul her child marriage.

A resident of Paladi village of Rajasthan's Bhilwara district, Mansi knocked the doors of Bhilwara's Family Court and filed the case for annulment of her child marriage on which Family Court Judge Mukesh Bhargava has issued summons to her 'husband'.

Manasi elicited the support of Dr. Kriti Bharti, Managing Trustee and Rehabilitation Psychologist of Sarathi Trust, Jodhpur, in her quest to break free from child marriage. Dr. Bharti, known for launching a campaign that facilitates annulment of child marriages, said that Mansi, 18, was married at the age of seven in 2009 to a young man from Banera tehsil.

The child bride is busy pursuing her first year of graduation. Her marriage took place in 2009 under social pressure. Mansi realised what had happened only a few years ago.

After Mansi became an adult, she refused to accept the marriage. Since then, her in-laws have been putting pressure on her and her family. They've even threatened the family with dire consequences.

Mansi and her family became depressed for a long time owing to pressure and personal fear of caste panchayats. Now, with help from Dr. Kriti Bharti of Saarthi Trust, Mansi has shown courage to annul the child marriage.

Dr. Bharti helped Mansi file a child marriage annulment case in the family court of Bhilwara District. In the petition, Dr. Bharti pleaded on behalf of Mansi and presented the facts related to her age and other facts in the court.

Family Court Judge Mukesh Bhargava showed enormous sensitivity in the case of child marriage annulment and immediately issued summons to the so-called husband.

Judge Mukesh Bhargava said that swift and serious action will have to be taken at all levels to end the practice of child marriage.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.