In a shocking case of child marriage, a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Hyderabad was forced to marry a man more than double her age. The court has served legal notice to the girl reminding her of her "conjugal duties".

The police said, "they can't take action without a complaint as child marriage is not automatically illegal."

The teen went to child rights activists for help.

The girl was preparing for Class 10 exam in February last year when she was forced to marry one of her 20 years older cousin. Her family emotionally blackmailed her stating that her aunt was dying and would like to see her son married.

"It (the wedding) happened very suddenly. He was more than 35 years old. I didn't know at the time," she told NDTV.

The girl, however, put one condition to marry her cousin that was she should be allowed to sit for her exams and study further.

After her exams, she was immediately sent to her husband's home, where she was physically and sexually assaulted every day.

But after two months of the wedding, the girl returned home. The girl was sent the notice after her parents asked their son-in-law's family to return Rs. 1 lakh dowry and gold.

The girl reached Anuradha, a government-run social action group. She also called a Panchayat meeting with village elders to resolve the fight.

"But the husband turned up with two lawyers and said instead of returning money to her parents, he would pay lawyers,'' Anuradha said.

Achyutha Rao, a Child Rights Commission member, said "it was appalling that a minor girl was being served legal notice on sexual duties. The accused is not being booked. Instead, a legal notice has been sent to this 15-year-old girl for restitution of conjugal rights. We are going to file a criminal case against the lawyer."

One of the lawyers said, "he was not aware that the girl is a minor."

The is presently a studying in one of the junior colleges in Hyderabad. She does not want to go back to her husband. "I want to study and do well on my own merit," she said.

Legal experts say "the girl must move court within one year to get the marriage annulled."

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