Amitha Reji George, Pune
On Friday, the Assam Cabinet repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935. Thus, the Special Marriage Act will apply to every matter related to Muslim marriages and divorces. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led the Cabinet meeting, where the decision was made. Following the meeting, State Minister Jayanta Mallabarua briefed the media and called it a step towards reaching UCC.
It was recently announced by the CM that the state is heading towards a uniform civil code. According to Mallabarua, the Assam Muslim Marriage & Divorce Registration Act of 1935 has been repealed today, leaving 94 Muslim registrars in operation. The Minister added that, from now on, the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces will be handled by the District Commissioner and the District Registrar. Further, he added that a one-time payment of Rs 2 lakh will be given to each of the 94 Muslim registrars working under the Act, who will be relieved of their duties.
This Act included provisions that permitted marriage registration even in cases where the bride and groom did not meet the legally mandated age requirements of 18 and 21, respectively. This decision marks another important step towards prohibiting child marriages in Assam, Chief Minister Himant Biswa Sarma posted on X (former Twitter).
Chief Minister Sarma has stated over and over again that the Assam government is attempting to implement a UCC. It has also been working on a bill to outlaw polygamy and make it a crime at the same time. Following the submission of the report by an expert committee on the Assembly’s authority to outlaw polygamy, 150 recommendations were made for the draft legislation intended to eradicate the social scourge in the state. Although the Chief Minister stated that his government supported the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), polygamy should be outlawed immediately in the state.
Additionally, Sarma has earlier said that the indigenous communities inside the state will not be subjected to the UCC. Uttarakhand became the first state in the nation to approve the Uniform Civil Code Bill earlier this month. The bill seeks to replace the old personal laws that govern marriage, live-in relationships, divorce, and succession.