Allahabad High Court Orders Criminal and Bar Council Action Over Child Marriage in Advocate's Chamber

The Allahabad High Court directed criminal action and Bar Council proceedings against an advocate after an inquiry found that he solemnised a minor's marriage inside his chamber in the Kanpur Nagar District Court complex.

Background and legal issue

The Allahabad High Court directed criminal action and Bar Council proceedings against an advocate after an inquiry found that he solemnised a minor's marriage inside his chamber in the Kanpur Nagar District Court complex. Justices Rajnish Kumar and Babita Rani noted that the girl's academic record showed she was a minor and found that the advocate had failed to verify her age properly. The Court also directed that marriages should not be performed in advocates' chambers within court premises. The order concerns both protection against child marriage and professional standards, while any criminal liability will be determined through the proceedings the Court directed authorities to initiate.

Legal significance

The legal effect is confined to the judgment, order or procedural development reported here. Allegations and submissions are not treated as established facts unless expressly decided.

What follows

The parties, authorities or court will proceed according to the operative position described above.