The Supreme Court has said that a male person aged between 18 and 21 wouldn't attract any punishment if he marries an 18+ female even though this is seen by the law as a "child marriage". As per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, "a male who has not attained 21 years is a child".

Even though a male person who hasn't reached 21 is considered a child for marriage purposes in the law, he wouldn't be punished with rigorous imprisonment for contracting a child marriage if the female person is 18 years or above.

Although it was not explicitly stated in the law this way, the apex court has made this liberal interpretation in its latest ruling.

Note that the definition of adulthood is different in marriage-related laws. A man is a child till 21 years, a female is a child till 18 years.