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Supreme Court Urges Parliament to Outlaw Child  Betrothals: Protecting Children’s Rights and Autonomy The Supreme Court of India, in a significant ruling, called for Parliament to consider outlawing child betrothals . The apex court emphasized that marriages fixed during a child's minority severely violate their right to free choice , autonomy, and agency. These arrangements, the court noted, take away from children their ability to choose their own life paths and partners before they are mature enough to assert their individual rights. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud , alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra , pointed out that while the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006 , addresses child marriages, it does not specifically outlaw betrothals, which can be used to circumvent the penalties under this Act. Child Betrothal and Rights Violation In its judgment, the bench expressed the view that child betrothals deprive children of their right to...