123 Kolkata: Bengal govt's endeavours in combating child marriage received praises from Justice Harish Tandon, judge, Calcutta High Court and executive chairman, state legal services authority during a seminar at the HC on Saturday.
He instructed the judicial magistrates to be proactive and record statements of the accused within 24 hours of the prayer being submitted. He emphasised that the abettors can be punished and penalised even if the marriage is halted through an injunction. Justice Tandon advocated for various govt depts to work in synchronisation to prevent child marriage.
Justice Soumen Sen, HC judge and chairman of HC legal services committee and juvenile justice committee, emphasised proper reporting of cases. Dhananjay Tingal, executive director of Association for Voluntary Action, encouraged people to lodge complaints. tnn