Lok Sabha Question No. 1653 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-06
Subject: Marriage of Minor Girls with Sheikhs
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1653

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06 TH  MARCH, 2018 /PHALGUNA 15, 1939 (SAKA)

MARRIAGE OF MINOR GIRLS WITH SHEIKHS

†1653. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether several cases of sheikhs from Arab countries marrying minor girls in India have come to light;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is considering to take any action against the said persons;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether cases of trafficking of minor Indian muslim girls under the shield of marriage has also come to light;
- (e)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes to take any steps to check such practice; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (c): In response to the information sought by the Ministry of Home Affairs from the State Governments and UTs on the point whether nationals of some Gulf  countries  have  been  marrying  minor  girls  in  India,  the  Government  of Telangana had informed that in the year 2014 to 2017, they had registered 8 cases against nationals of certain Gulf countries for marriage with minor girls and had arrested 47 accused persons and identified 8 victims. Year-wise details of the same  are mentioned below:

L.S.US.Q NO. 1653 FOR 06.03.2018

| Year   |   No. of cases registered | No. of victims   | No. of accused arrested   |
|--------|---------------------------|------------------|---------------------------|
| 2014   |                         2 | 18               | 2                         |
|        |                         2 | 2 9              | 2015                      |
| 2016   |                         1 | 1 2              |                           |
| 2017   |                         3 | 3 18             |                           |
| Total  |                         8 | 8                | 47                        |

(d) to (f): Taking  cognizance  of  news  reports  in  print  and  electronic  media about nationals of certain gulf countries coming to Hyderabad to marry minor muslim girls,  the  National  Commission for Women had constituted an Inquiry Committee which found that nationals from Gulf countries marry minor muslim girls after paying money to brokers and middle men and to the families of girls. In most cases, the girl is subjected to exploitation, violence and cruelty. After inquiry  in  some  cases,  the  Telangana  Police  arrested  some  nationals  of  gulf countries.

Based on the findings of the Inquiry Committee, the National Commission for Women  made  a  series  of  recommendations  to  address  the  situation  and forwarded the same to concerned Ministries and Departments such as Ministry of  External  Affairs,  Ministry  of  Women  &  Child  Development,  Ministry  of Minority Affairs, Ministry of Labour & Employment etc. to take suitable action. The  report/recommendations  of  the  National  Commission  for  Women  was forwarded by the Ministry of Home Affairs to all State Governments and UT

## L.S.US.Q NO. 1653 FOR 06.03.2018

Administrations for their guidance in addressing the issue of human trafficking/exploitation of minors.

'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  and  as  such  prevention  of  the crime  of  trafficking  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  State  Governments. However,  the  Central  Government  has  been  supplementing  the  efforts  of  the States and UTs by providing them regular guidance through various advisories issued  from  time  to  time.  These  advisories  are  available  on  the  website  of Ministry of Home Affairs at: http://mha.gov.in. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also  signed bilateral  agreements on Human Trafficking with Bangladesh, UAE and Cambodia to address the issue of transnational trafficking. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also released financial support to all States for setting up Anti Human Trafficking Units in various districts of the States to address trafficking related issues.

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