Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has declared that the state government will soon be prohibiting polygamy and its primary goal is to put the Marriage Registration Bill into effect. The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, which replaces the 1935 Act, was approved by the Assembly on 29th August. The old Act is replaced by the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024.
The Assam administration has not yet decided on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), but CM Sarma stressed in his August 28 speech that their main goal is to make sure that marriages and divorces are registered by sub-registrars rather than “Kazis.” “The next action we take will be to outlaw polygamy, which could happen at any time. Before we take any further action, we are attentively observing the judicial opinions regarding the Uttarakhand UCC, Sarma stated.
The Chief Minister made it clear that Assam’s strategy differs from the larger UCC discussion by concentrating on addressing problems like underage marriage and the exploitation of women. “Since our course of action differs, we are not pursuing a comprehensive UCC. We’re dedicated to putting an end to child marriage and defending the rights of women,” he continued.
The Assam government plans to establish a new law in April 2025 that will mandate couples give six months’ notice before getting married in addition to the Marriage Registration Bill. The goal of the action is to protect marriage’s sacredness, which Sarma feels is being threatened by couples who change their identities on social media or elope. Speaking before the Assam Assembly, Sarma voiced concerns about the growing number of people meeting online, changing their names, and forming relationships outside of social conventions. “Marriage is a legally recognized and respected institution, but eloping individuals are eroding its respect,” he said. To remedy this issue, the new law will require previous registration or notification.
The administration of Assam has likewise set a lofty goal: by 2026, the state wants to be free of child marriage. In response to incidents involving child marriage, CM Sarma informed the Assam Assembly that 3,907 people had been arrested over the previous five years. Of those, 3,319 were charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Sarma clarified that the new rule, which will increase the notice period from the present one month under the Special Marriage Act of 1954 to six months, will apply to all interreligious weddings. “Marriages between people who alter their identities in order to deceive others are not acceptable to us. A rich household cannot be built on such tactics, the man argued. The proactive actions taken by the Assamese government demonstrate its dedication to protecting women’s and children’s rights and promoting marriage in a respectful and orderly manner throughout the state.
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