GUWAHATI, May 18 — Assam is poised to become the fourth Indian state to implement a uniform civil code (UCC), and a cross-section of the state’s Muslim community has expressed guarded support, welcoming what they describe as a potential step toward a balanced, progressive and inclusive legal framework. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the proposed Bill, which will address four broad areas — minimum age of marriage, prohibition of polygamy, equal inheritance rights for daughters, and provisions relating to live-in relationships — will be tabled in the Assam Legislative Assembly on May 26.
The Chief Minister’s Office has argued the UCC will create a unified system of personal laws while safeguarding the customs of Scheduled Tribe and Adivasi communities, strengthening women’s rights, ensuring child welfare and improving legal coherence across the state. The government has said the draft has been customised to Assam’s requirements and that tribal practices and religious rituals will be protected.
Nurul Amin, former vice-principal of Jorhat’s JB College, told The Assam Tribune that while it is difficult to judge the Bill before the full text is published, the impression given by the chief minister suggests the provisions “will be beneficial to society as a whole, including the Muslims of Assam.” Amin welcomed limits on live-in relationships, saying “Live-in relationship without marriage has never been permitted in Islam,” and supported measures to curb child marriage and polygamy as socially necessary, while noting that inheritance rights for women are already enshrined in the Quran. He added there could be room for discussion on specific rules about property shares.
Sazzad Zahir, a Guwahati-based IT professional, described the initiative as potentially “balanced, progressive, and inclusive,” reflecting evolving realities in Assamese society and progressive values within the Muslim community. He cautioned, however, that public figures and commentators should exercise restraint to avoid incendiary remarks that might spark misunderstanding or communal tensions. Zahir urged patience and responsibility, noting detailed interpretation should wait until the draft Bill is available and warning against treating individual political statements as representative of the entire community.
Sofia Banu, an associate professor at Gauhati University, called the move welcome for its potential to “bridge the inequality in inheritance and execution of rights in favour of women,” but said she opposed excluding sections of the population from the law’s scope. While some critics warn the UCC could impinge on religious freedom, the state government maintains it will protect tribal customs and adapt the code to Assam’s unique social fabric.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/assamese-muslims-welcome-assams-proposed-ucc-seek-inclusive-balanced-law-1611735
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2026-05-18 08:51:00
