Assam: Ban on polygamy, love jihad next on agenda of Himanta Biswa-led govt

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the state government will soon ban polygamy and the primary aim is to bring the Marriage Registration Bill into effect. The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, which replaces the 1935 Act, was passed by the Assembly on August 29. The old Act will be replaced by the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024.

The Assam administration is yet to take a decision on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), but CM Sarma in his August 28 speech stressed that their main objective is to ensure that marriages and divorces are registered by sub-registrars instead of ‘Kazis’. “The next action we will take is to ban polygamy, which can happen anytime. Before taking any further action, we are keeping a close eye on the court pronouncements regarding the Uttarakhand UCC,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister made it clear that Assam’s strategy differs from the broader UCC discussion by focusing on addressing issues such as underage marriage and exploitation of women. “Since our course of action is different, we are not seeking a one-size-fits-all UCC. We are committed to ending child marriage and defending the rights of women,” he continued.

The Assam government is planning to introduce a new law in April 2025 that will require couples to give six months’ notice before getting married, alongside the Marriage Registration Bill. The move is aimed at protecting the sanctity of marriage, which Sarma believes is being threatened by couples changing their identities on social media or eloping. In a speech before the Assam Assembly, Sarma expressed concern over the growing number of people meeting online, changing their names and forming relationships outside social conventions. “Marriage is a legally recognized and respected institution, but eloping individuals undermine its respect,” he said. To address this issue, the new law will require prior registration or notification.

The Assam government has also set a lofty target of making the state free of child marriages by 2026. In response to incidents of child marriage, CM Sarma informed the Assam Assembly that 3,907 people had been arrested in the past five years. Of them, 3,319 were charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Sarma clarified that the new rule, which will extend the current one-month notice period under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, to six months, will be applicable to all interfaith marriages. “Marriages between people who change their identity to deceive others are not acceptable to us. A wealthy household cannot be built on such tactics,” the man argued. The proactive actions taken by the Assam government show its commitment to protecting the rights of women and children and promoting marriage in a respectful and orderly manner across the state.