Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Allahabad High Court bars Arya Samaj temple from solemnising marriages
Judges in India are like referees who make sure rules are followed, including the rule that a man must be at least 21 years old before he can marry.
A temple in Lucknow called Arya Samaj helps people get married, but the judges found it was not always checking how old people really were.
A young man named Anand Kumar received a marriage certificate saying he was 22 years old.
However, his official identity card, called an Aadhaar card, showed he was born on January 1, 2007, which means he was only around 19 — younger than the law allows.
The temple said the boy's mother gave them a written promise about his age, but the judges said that promise alone was not enough proof.
So they told the temple to stop performing weddings until it can show it will check ages properly.
The judges also warned that anyone involved in marrying people who are too young could be in trouble with the law.
The judges kept the temple's marriage records safe and will meet again on August 31 to decide what happens next.
The Allahabad High Court restrained an Arya Samaj temple in Lucknow from solemnising marriages or issuing marriage certificates until further orders.
A Lucknow bench of Justices Rajnish Kumar and Babita Rani passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by Neha and Anand Kumar seeking protection from alleged police harassment.
The court was told Anand Kumar was about 19 years old per his Aadhaar card, while the minimum legal age for marriage for men is 21 years.
The certificate recorded Anand Kumar's age as 22 though his Aadhaar showed a date of birth of January 1, 2007; the temple secretary could not cite a legal provision allowing an affidavit alone as proof of age.
The court kept the marriage register and affidavits in sealed custody with the senior registrar, and listed the matter for further hearing on August 31.
- Who
- Justices Rajnish Kumar and Babita Rani of the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench, petitioners Neha and Anand Kumar, and Arya Samaj temple secretary Sankalp Mishra.
- What
- The court restrained an Arya Samaj temple in Lucknow from solemnising marriages or issuing marriage certificates until further orders over the alleged failure to verify couples' legal age.
- When
- The order was passed on August 5; the matter is listed for further hearing on August 31.
- Where
- Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench); the Arya Samaj temple in Lucknow, India.
- Why
- Records prima facie indicated age was not properly verified — Anand Kumar's certificate recorded 22 while his Aadhaar showed he was about 19, below the legal minimum of 21 — and the court observed that all those involved would be liable if underage marriages are solemnised.
- Court
- Allahabad High Court (Lucknow bench)
- Presiding Justices
- Rajnish Kumar and Babita Rani
- Temple
- Arya Samaj temple, Lucknow
- Petitioners
- Neha and Anand Kumar
- Temple Secretary
- Sankalp Mishra
- Age Discrepancy
- Certificate recorded 22 years; Aadhaar showed date of birth January 1, 2007 (about 19 years)
- Minimum Legal Marriage Age for Men
- 21 years
- Next Hearing
- August 31
