At issue was the virginity and pregnancy tests ordered on 152 brides at a mass wedding in Madhya Pradesh last month. This happened when just before the ceremony was to begin, a would-be bride went into labour pains, shocking those present.

After the tests were over, 14 of the brides were found to be pregnant.

Later, 138 couples belonging to different religions tied the knot.

The incident occurred June 30 when the brides had assembled for a mass marriage at Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district, 350 km from state capital Bhopal.

The function was held under the 'Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna', Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's pet scheme aimed at helping girls from poor families tie the knot at government expense.

Marriages under the scheme are solemnised free of cost and all arrangements are made by the district administration. Every couple is also provided assistance in the form of household items worth Rs.5,000.

The state government has allotted Rs.25 crore in the budget for the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana. The government has also increased the scheme's grant amount from Rs.5,000 to Rs.6,500 from January 2009 payable to a girl after marriage.

According to the state's Economic Survey (2008-09), 88,460 marriages were solemnised from April 2006 to March 2009 under the government scheme.