Four Review of Law, Implementation of Treaties and Other International Instruments of Human Rights CHILD MARRIAGE RESTRAINT ACT, 1929 4.1 The problem of the widespread prevalence of child marriage in certain parts of the country has beenlmajor concern of the Commission for a number of years. The Commission has been interaciing with the National Commission for Women and the Department of Women & Child Development to evolve suitable measures to combat this problem. As the Draft Marriage Bidjointly prepared by the National Commission for Women and Department ofWomen & Child Development did not find favour with the Government, the Commission decided to work jn an amendment to the Child Marriage (Restraint) Act, 1929. It held discussions on 16 December 1999 with the Secretary, Department of Women & Child Development; the Secretary, Legislative Department; and the Member Secretary, National Commission for vVomen. 4.2 The Commssion is pursuing the matter further along the following lines that emerged during the discursion: □ It would be more appropriate to provide for a compulsory registration of marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act through appropriate amendments, instead of making such a provision in the Child Marriage (Restraint) Act, 1929. □ There is a need to amend the Child Marriage (Restraint) Act to provide for higher penalty foi the violations of the provisions of this Act, and there is also a need to make the offence cognizable and non-bailable. □ Provision has to be made in the Child Marriage (Restraint) Act to take action against organizers/associations who organize mass child marriages. □ Apart fron amending the legal provisions appropriately, there is a need to initiate social actic3i by networking with the NGOs in the areas where child marriages are prevalent o sensitize the community leaders against such marriages.