Assam Assembly’s Bold Move: Repeal of Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act Sparks Controversy
Assam Assembly Repeals Law on Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration
On August 29, the Assam Assembly passed a bill to repeal The Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan had earlier tabled The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, intending to eliminate the outdated legislation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted that this move aims to abolish child marriages and the Kazi system, integrating the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces into the government framework.
Sarma emphasized that all marriages should be registered according to a Supreme Court order, and the state could no longer support private entities like Kazis for this purpose. Mohan added that the old law allowed the registration of marriages for males below 21 and females below 18 years, lacked adequate implementation provisions, and led to significant legal disputes. The informal nature of the registration mechanism under the 1935 Act could be exploited for underage and forced marriages, he said.
To address these issues, the Assam government introduced The Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriage and Divorce Bill, 2024. This bill aims to ensure all marriages are registered within a formal, government-supervised system. Last month, the Cabinet approved the Repealing Bill, highlighting that the 1935 Act perpetuated underage marriages under certain conditions.
The opposition criticized the decision, labeling it discriminatory against Muslims and a strategy to polarize voters in an election year. Nonetheless, the ruling party maintains that the new legislation will bring uniformity and legal compliance in marriage registrations, aligning them with the Supreme Court directive.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-assembly-passes-bill-to-repeal-muslim-marriages-divorce-act-1081691-2024-08-29?utm_source=rssfeed
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