NEW DELHI: The
Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking to reduce the marriageable age for men to 18 years from 21 years, citing the fact that they could enlist in the Army at that age and can even vote in the elections.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India
Ranjan Gogoi not only dismissed the plea by l awyer Ashok Pande, but also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him for wasting the court’s time. Justice
Sanjay Kishan Kaul was the second judge on the bench.
“Wait till an 18 year old boy moves SC seeking permission to marry,” CJI Gogoi said sternly.
The court has said that it will only hear PILs filed by affected parties or the poor.
The CJI had hinted just before taking office that he would only entertain genuine PILs and not “politically” motivated ones.
Motivated ones will not be heard, he had said, in the first hint that under his dispensation the court would roll back on its activism.