LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Sargara had grown up with her own family, only finding out she was married when her in-laws came to claim her this month. Child marriages are illegal in India, but are still common in many parts of the country, especially in rural and poorer communities.

"I was unhappy about the marriage. I told my parents who did not agree with me, and then I sought help," Laxmi told journalists.

She says he knew nothing of the path her life was intended to take until a few days ago when her groom's family came to take her home with them to start her new life as Rakesh's wife.

When her parents refused to help, Laxmi sought help from a local non-governmental organization, the Sarathi Trust in Jodhpur city.

"She got depressed. She did not like the boy and was not ready to go ahead with her parents' decision," Sarathi Trust worker Kriti Bharti told reporters.

Her intended husband, Rakesh only agreed to the annulment after counseling.

"It is the first example we know of a couple wed in childhood wanting the marriage to be annulled and we hope others take inspiration," Kriti Bharti added.

As child marriages are not legal under India's Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, both Laxmi and Rakesh signed an affidavit declaring the marriage null and void in the presence of a notary public in Jodhpur.

A recent survey found that 10 percent of girls in Rajasthan are married off before the age of 18.

There have been several cases of young girls refusing to get married in India but these are rare cases, correspondents say.

According to UNICEF, 40 percent of the world's child marriages take place in India. Recent efforts to stop the practice mean the number of such marriages has declined.

© 2012, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.