Protection of reproductive and sexual rights of adolescents in India in the context of child marriage

This paper examines the ‘child marriage problem’ and encourages rethinking of laws concerning child marriage and child sexuality, in order to better protect the sexual health and reproductive rights of married girls in conformity with international standards. It considers the complex issue of the age of marriage and age of consent and examines whether the decision of the Supreme Court in X v Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department (2023) could be the key to expanding the reproductive rights of minors, including those in child marriages in India.