Expressing grave concern over the high prevalence of child marriages resulting in underage pregnancies and deliveries in the State, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday (September 7, 2026) said that the State had recorded nearly 60,000 underage institutional deliveries in the first six months of 2026.
Mr. Experts working on the ground, however, say that child marriage is a complex issue involving not only parental or social pressure but also cases of elopement, and minor grooms. They warn that the arrest of husbands may result in placing a strain on already marginalised families, and impact marital relations adversely.
Adhikari read out the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, adding that the law prohibited marriage with a child below 18 years of age. Sharing district-wise details of cases of underage pregnancies, the Chief Minister said 12,847 institutional childbirths by underage girls were recorded in Murshidabad district alone, followed by South 24 Parganas at 4,178.
In such cases, “Police action will be initiated and arrests will be made,” he said.
