Chamarajanagar: A birth certificate or an SSLC marks card are valid documents to determine the age of a child or a person. Birth registration has the potential to play a crucial role in reducing child marriage. But here is a case where the SSLC marks card was tampered with to marry off a minor girl. 

The shocking incident occurred in Chamarajanagar at Uppara Layout on Thursday where the birth date of the girl in her SSLC marks card was changed. A case has been booked against three persons including the bridegroom who despite knowing that the girl is underage had agreed for the marriage. A resident of Uppara Layout wanted to marry off his daughter to a youth of the same layout and had made all arrangements for the wedding at a local marriage hall. 

The incident, however, was reported to Child Helpline by an anonymous caller at 10.30 am and the caller told the officials that a minor girl is being married off.  Acting swiftly, Child Helpline officers, Police and officials from the Department of Women and Child Welfare rushed to the marriage hall. But by the time they reached the marriage hall, the bridegroom had tied the traditional mangalsutra to the girl and some of the rituals were completed. 

Seeing the official team, the parents of the bride and bridegroom and relatives picked up a fight with the officials and claimed that the girl is of legal marriageable age of 18. Chaos prevailed at the marriage hall and the Police had to intervene. Later, the girl was handed over to Child Helpline team and the Department officials. 

The hapless girl was taken to Balamandira and when the officials checked her SSLC marks card, it was discovered that the girl was born in 2003 and she had just completed 16 years and three months. Her SSLC marks card was tampered to change the birth date to 2001. As per school records too, she was born in 2003. 

The Police have arrested bridegroom Mahesh, his father Chinnaswamy and the girl’s uncle. Later they were released on bail.