The punishment under Section 18 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 is imposed on:

Section 18 of the Hindu Marriage Act punishes "every person who procures a marriage of himself or herself to be solemnized" in breach of s.5(iii), (iv) or (v), that is, the party to the marriage. Priests and parents who take part in a child marriage are dealt with under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, not under s.18.