Indian Court Says Child Marriage Ban Overrides Muslim Personal Law

Times of India reports that yesterday the high court in the Indian state of Karnataka has ruled that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act which sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 overrides provisions of the Muslim Personal Law.  The court dismissed a petition filed on behalf of a 17-year old Muslim girl who claimed that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act is not applicable to Muslims because Muslim Personal Law permits marriage of a girl after she has attained puberty.