Thursday, October 6 2005 15:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Women's groups today (Oct 06, 2005) reacted angrily to a judgment by Delhi High Court that marriage of a girl of 15 was legally valid if it was at her own free will, saying it defeated efforts to stop child marriage and asked the Centre to appeal against the decision.

"There should definitely be a rethink on this court order and the government should appeal against the decision," National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Girija Vyas told reporters.

Speaking on the sidelines of a national consultation on the Draft Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women Bill, 2005, she said the Commission will write to the Centre to appeal against the court order.

"Child marriage is a big problem in our country. You should see the plight of child widows. In such a scenario, the court order is a matter of serious concern," Vyas said.

"It is a ridiculous, outrageous and retrograde judgment," CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and President of the women's group AIDWA, Brinda Karat said.

"The decision is highly objectionable. We condemn it in the severest of terms. The High Court has gone against the laws banning child marriage," Karat said.

She said it was the responsibility of the Centre to immediately appeal against the court order.

Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhury, who was chief guest at the consultation, also criticised the court's decision, saying, "I am baffled, upset and angry. If a girl can marry at 15, then you might as well allow 15-year-olds to drink, vote and drive."