Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government in Assam has repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act (1935). The decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on Friday.
Speaking about his government's decision, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "On 23.22024, the Assam cabinet made a significant decision to repeal the age-old Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act. This act contained provisions allowing marriage registration even if the bride and groom had not reached the legal ages of 18 and 21, as required by law. This move marks another significant step towards prohibiting child marriages in Assam."
Slamming the BJP government on its latest move, AIUDF MLA Dr Hafiz Rafiqul Islam said, "This Government doesn't have the courage to bring UCC. They can't do it. What they brought in Uttarakhand, is not UCC either... They were trying to bring UCC to Assam too. But I think they can't bring it to Assam because there are people from several castes and communities here... BJP followers themselves follow those practices here... Elections are approaching, this is just their tactics to target Muslims. So, they couldn't bring any Bill on polygamy or UCC in Assam...So, they are repealing the Assam Muslim Marriages & Divorces Registration Act. Assam cabinet doesn't have the right to repeal or amend a constitutional right..."
Cabinet Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah called the government's decision a major step towards the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
"The District Commissioner and the District Registrar will now be in charge of registering Muslim marriages and divorces under the new structure. The 94 Muslim registrars who were employed under the revoked Act will also be released from their positions and given a lump sum payment of Rs 2 lakh," Jayanta Mallabaruah said.
The state cabinet minister further said that the latest government's move will have wider ramifications, especially prohibiting child marriage.
"The administration intends to address the issue of child marriage, which is defined as the union of individuals under the ages of 18 for women and 21 for men, by repealing this Act," the minister added.
Assam government's move came weeks after Uttarakhand became the first state after independence to pass the Uniform Civil Code.
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