India, June 18 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday stepped in to protect a 16-year-old girl from Bihar who alleged she was forcibly married to a man twice her age and later subjected to abuse, as it ordered protection to the girl and her friend who helped her escape the marriage and now faces a kidnapping charge.

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan directed the Director General of Police, Bihar, and the Delhi Police Commissioner to ensure the safety of both the girl and her friend. They were also asked to provide them with emergency contact numbers to be used in case of any exigency.

The girl approached the court through her friend, seeking annulment of the marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and protecti...