In a significant move towards modernizing legislative practices, the Assam Assembly has officially abolished the two-hour Jumma break. This break, historically observed on Fridays, was first introduced by Syed Saadulla of the Muslim League in 1937.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (August 30) expressed his gratitude for the landmark decision. In a statement, he praised Speaker Biswajit Daimary and the legislators for prioritizing efficiency and progress. “By doing away with this outdated practice, we are taking a crucial step towards a more productive and modern legislative process. This is a significant moment in our history,” Sarma stated.
Significantly, earlier, on Thursday, the Assam Assembly also passed a bill to repeal a law to register marriages and divorces of Muslims. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan first tabled the Assam Repealing Bill, 2024 on August 22 to abolish the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935 and the Assam Repealing Ordinance 2024.
Earlier, taking part in the discussion, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said: "Our aim is not only to abolish child marriages, ... also to get away with the Kazi system. We want to bring registration of Muslim marriages and divorces under the government system."
He 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.
