Supreme court on monday dismissed the petition that urged the court to increase the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. 

The supreme court reasoned that if we strike down 18 years as the minimum age of marriage, we cannot follow it with a law making 21 years the minimum age of marriage. 

The power to enact law lies with the parliament. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) bill that proposes to increase the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years is under consideration of the parliament standing committee.