Assam Assembly passes bill to abolish Muslim marriages, divorce act

29 Aug 2024 Evaluate

The Assam Assembly passed a bill to repeal a law to register marriages and divorces of Muslims. The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, abolishes The Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, and the Assam Repealing Ordinance 2024.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan had on August 22 tabled The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024 in the Assembly. Jogen Mohan said the new bill aims to prevent underage marriages, marriages without consent, and polygamy, while also protecting women's rights and strengthening the institution of marriage. He stated that the old law allowed registration of marriages for individuals below 21 years (for males) and 18 years (for females), lacked provisions for monitoring its implementation and led to significant litigation. He added that the law could be misused by authorised licensees and citizens for underage and forced marriages and that the registration mechanism was informal. 

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the aim is not only to abolish child marriages but also to get away with the ‘Kazi system’. We want to bring registration of Muslim marriages and divorces under the government system. He further said that registration of all marriages has to be done as per a Supreme Court order, but the state cannot support a private body like that of Kazis for this purpose.

While, the opposition called the decision discriminatory against Muslims and an attempt to polarise voters in an election year. However, the government maintains that the goal is to end the social menace of child marriage and bring about a more uniform and regulated system for marriage and divorce registrations.


 

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