VIRUDHUNAGAR: Setting a precedent for officials and the public, the Virudhunagar Collector, himself directly got into action and stopped a minor maariage in the district. The marriage of a 14-year-old girl, studying 9th standard, with a 31-year-old man was prevented at the last minute by the intervention of the District Collector, M Balaji, on Saturday.District Social Welfare Officer, A Chandradevi, received information that the parents of the girl had arranged a marriage with a 31-year-old man in Sattur panchayat union. Enquiries revealed that both the parents of the girl and the groom who were natives of Sattur, but now residing in Madurai, had decided to perform the marriage in Sattur.The Social Welfare Officer informed the District Collector about the marriage who directed her to proceed immediately to Sattur and stop the marriage. The wedding was to take place between 10.30 and 11.30 am and Chandradevi was just in time to stop the marriage. She told the parents that it was an offence to give a minor girl in marriage and to wait till she was 18 to arrange her marriage.The parents then expressed regret saying they were not aware of the law and promised that they would abide by the law.Collector Balaji, who reached the venue, said that ignorance of law was no excuse and that anyone violating this rule would be severely dealt with. He urged the parents of the girl to allow her to continue her education. The girl thanked the Collector and the SWO for saving her from the misery of a minor marriage.
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