Thursday, October 6 2005 14:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The marriage of a girl above the age of 15 is legally valid provided she does so of her own free will. Thus ruled the high court in a judgment that may open the floodgates of controversy.

The court said that a girl above 15 years can be said to have reached the age of discretion and any wilful marriage by her would be considered valid, enforceable and recognisable in courts of law.

The court was considering cases where minor girls had eloped and charges of kidnapping had been levelled against the men concerned. As the age of marriage is 18, men who eloped with minors faced stiff sentences, including the likely charge of statutory rape. Quashing criminal cases pending against the beaus of two girls, a bench felt that the instances 'amply demonstrated' the truth of the adage that 'love is blind' and 'all is fair in love and war.' They further quoted from Francis Bacon to say, "You cannot love and be wise."