Officials intervene, stop marriage of minor girl

The marriage of a 14-year-old girl was stopped at Sellur here on Thursday night with the intervention of officials from the Department of Social Welfare. According to officials, information about the marriage, which was scheduled to take place at a ‘mandapam' on Palam Station Road on Friday, came from the police. The District Social Welfare Officer, M. Jayalakshmi, visited the spot and explained to the parents of the bride and groom that the marriage of the minor girl was illegal. The girls' parents gave an undertaking in writing that the wedding would be solemnised when the girl became a major and now they would stop with the engagement. They were warned that they would have to face legal action if they attempted to get the girl married before she attained 18 years of age.