The Kerala government today issued a new circular clarifying that the marriageable age for Muslim girls is 18 years, and 21 years for men.The previous circular, issued recently, directed the local self-government authorities to register marriages of Muslim males aged below 21 years and females aged below 18 years, but over 16 years, and issue them marriage certificates.However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy clarified that the earlier circular was not meant for any exemption for new marriages. It was only for regularising marriages of men under 21 years old and girls below 18 but over 16 years, that had already been solemnised.The new circular clearly states that for all Muslim marriages that have been solemnised until yesterday, men under the age of 21 years and women above 16 years would be issued the necessary marriage registration certificates.

Registration of all marriages at the respective local bodies was made compulsory from 2008.