New Delhi: West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand are the three top states that have the dubious distinction of having the maximum number of married girl children under the age of 18 years of age , a survey considered by the supreme court has said.
The supreme court division bench comprising of justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta has quoted the survey in its order while delivering the historic verdict declaring sexual intercourse with minor wife as rape.
The National Family Health Survey 2015-16 says that West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand have 40.7%, 39% and 36% of child brides respectively. The states of Rajasthan, Maharastra and Gujarat have 33.4%, 25% and 24.9% of child brides.
The survey said the lowest percentage of child marriages was recorded in Punjab and Kerala at 7.6 per cent.
