ORAL ORDER

The petitioners/accused Nos. 1 to 5 are before the Court calling in question the proceedings in C.C.No.4782 of 2022 pending before the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Devanahalli arising out of crime in Crime No.61 of 2021 registered for offences punishable under Sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (‘the Act’ for short).

2. Heard Sri U. Sadakath, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Sri B. N. Jagadeesha, learned Additional State Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent.

3. Facts in brief, germane, are as follows: -

The petitioners are accused 1 to 5 and complainant is the State. It is a suo motu complaint by the State through the Child Development Project Officer, Devanahalli Taluk on 09-08-2021. It is the case of the prosecution in the complaint that 1^st petitioner/accused No.1 had performed the marriage with a minor by name Rakshitha, daughter of petitioners 4 and 5/accused No.2 and 4. On the said complaint investigation is conducted, which revealed that the daughter of petitioners 4 and 5 was given in marriage to accused No.1, who was of 27 years old at the said point in time and the girl was 16 years old and today the