The National Human Rights Commission, today, has taken suo motu cognizance of the report appearing in the Hindustan Times of 12 March 2003 titled “14-yr-old forced to marry girl he teased”. The Commission feels that if the allegation contained in the report is true, it is a case of serious violation of the provisions of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, as well as a grave violation of the human rights of both the children.





According to the news report, CPI-ML leaders of Jharkhand forced a 14-year-old boy Pradeep Paswan, of Birne village near Dhanbad in Jharkhand to marry 12-year-old Hemlata Kumari, a resident of the same village allegedly after she accused Pradeep of teasing her. The report also adds that Hemlata’s parents were initially unwilling to marry her off to Pradeep, but finally bowed to pressure from villagers and party activists. The villagers, including CPI-ML leader, Gurdev Yadav, allegedly handed over Rs.5001/- to the boy as monetary help to “set-up a home” after he got married to Hemleta.





The Commission has thus asked Chief Secretary, Jharkhand to look into the report and send his comments. In case, the allegations are correct, the Chief Secretary has been asked to indicate the action that has been taken, if any, against the abettors of the crime.





The Commission has called for the report within four weeks.