KATHMANDU: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya has said that the ongoing debate surrounding proposed changes to the Criminal Code regarding polygamy will be addressed through thorough discussion and consensus.
Speaking to the media following a meeting of the Bill Committee held Tuesday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, Minister Chaurasiya said a sub-committee will review the concerns raised about the issue and come to a concrete conclusion.
The committee met at the request of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who called for further deliberation on the proposed amendment to the Criminal Code Act, 2017, which includes a controversial provision that would legally permit polygamy under specific circumstances.
Minister Chaurasiya also noted that any changes related to legal marriage age will be made with due consideration to a Supreme Court order issued on July 10, 2023, which upheld the existing minimum legal age for marriage as 20 years.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court, with a joint bench of Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Sushma Lohani, stated that reducing the legal marriage age would be inappropriate from policy, legal, and social perspectives.
The court said early marriage has adverse effects on the physical, mental, educational, and social development of children, especially girls.
The apex court had also instructed the government to ensure effective implementation of the current legal framework on child marriage and suggested stronger preventive measures to curb underage unions. The court reminded the state of its international obligations, including commitments made under conventions such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Minister Chaurasiya assured that all these legal, constitutional, and international factors would be carefully weighed before the bill moves forward.
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