Officials rescue two girls from child marriage, teen stops own wedding in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan administration has stepped up enforcement against child marriage cases in the Bundi district, rescuing minors and stopping multiple planned ceremonies, including a case in which a teenage girl independently intervened to stop her own wedding.

Acting on intelligence inputs ahead of Akshaya Tritiya , a period often associated with mass weddings, district authorities, along with the Childline team Childline and police, intervened to halt two separate ceremonies scheduled for April 20. Officials also noted that the district remains on high alert due to repeated risks of child marriages during the festival season.

Investigations revealed that the rescued girls were aged 17 and 15 and were studying in Classes 10 and 12. In a similar pattern seen in recent months, authorities confirmed that at least one groom was also underage, and all ceremonies were stopped before completion. The girls were produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Child Welfare Committee, which ordered their relocation to a shelter home and initiated legal proceedings to prevent further arrangements.

In a separate case, a 16-year-old Class 12 student contacted officials directly and successfully stopped her own wedding scheduled for May 1, citing her wish to continue education. Despite resistance from family members, a joint rescue team ensured her protection and placed her under state care after counselling.

Officials said this marks at least the fourth recent incident in Bundi where minors have proactively sought intervention, reflecting growing awareness and assertiveness among girls.

Earlier similar cases in February–March also saw minors approaching authorities, fleeing home, or being rescued at the last moment, underscoring an ongoing pattern of preventive interventions in the district.

Authorities reiterated that preventing child marriage is a collective responsibility , urging citizens to report such cases through the 1098 helpline .