Under the new law, both the bride and groom must be at least 18 years old at the time of marriage. Any union involving a minor will not only be considered illegal but will also fall under the category of sexual abuse. This sharp legal shift signals the government’s intent to treat child marriage not as a cultural oversight, but as a serious offense.

The penalties are strict and far-reaching. An adult who marries a minor may face up to seven years in prison along with a fine of up to one million rupees. Performing or facilitating such a marriage can result in three years’ imprisonment and a fine of five hundred thousand rupees. The message is simple and direct: there will be no safe space for those who break this law.

Marriage registrars are also under close watch. If a registrar records a marriage involving a minor, they will face at least one year in jail and a fine of one hundred thousand rupees. Parents and guardians will not be spared either, they can be held criminally responsible for allowing or arranging underage marriages.

In a further step to close legal loopholes, the ordinance also makes it a crime to take a minor to another province for the purpose of marriage. Such an act carries a punishment of up to seven years in prison. Authorities have been granted special powers to intervene and stop underage marriages before they take place.

This ordinance amends the Punjab Child Marriage Act of 1929, bringing it in line with modern standards of child protection. The approval will be presented before the Punjab Assembly in its upcoming session, but the law is already in force. Violations will lead to criminal proceedings without exception.

With this move, Punjab has drawn a clear line in the sand. The government has chosen to replace silence with action and tradition with accountability. The new law stands as a promise that childhood is not a contract to be signed away, but a phase of life to be protected and respected.