SC dismisses PIL to lower men's marriageable age

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer, Asok Pande, seeking to lower the marriageable age for men from 21 to 18 years.

A two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi and comprising of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on the petitioner while dismissing the petition.

Pande (50), in his petition, had stated that if an 18-year-old man has the right to vote and join the Indian army, there was no rationale in restricting his right to marry until attaining the age of 21.