The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which had challenged a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that recognized the marriage of a 16-year-old Muslim girl as valid under Muslim personal law.

A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan reprimanded NCPCR, observing that the Commission had no locus standi to challenge the High Court’s order, which had merely granted protection to the girl and her husband. The Court termed the petition “a shocking step” on NCPCR’s part.

The High Court, in its 2022 ruling, had noted that under Muslim law, marriage is permissible once a girl attains puberty, presumed to be at 15 years of age. Accordingly, the court extended protection to the couple from external threats.

NCPCR had argued that the decision conflicted with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), which prescribe 18 years as the minimum age of consent for girls. However, the apex court clarified that the present case was about safeguarding life and liberty, not determining the legality of child marriage in general.