'Next Target Is Banning Polygamy': Himanta Biswa Sarma After Assam Bars Qazis From Registering Muslim Marriages

The Assam legislative assembly on Thursday (29 August) passed the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill 2024 prohibiting qazis or clerics from registering Muslim marriages within the state.

Calling it 'a historic day' in fight against the social evil of child marriage, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that his next target is banning polygamy, which allows Muslim men to have upto four wives.

Praising the Compulsory Registration Act, Sarma said that it will now make it mandatory to register marriages with the Assam government and cannot contravene the legal age of marriage of 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys.

"It will also act as a strict deterrent against teenage pregnancy and improve overall growth of our girls. I thank all the legislators who pledged their support to this Bill and Govt's vision of preventing child marriage," he added.

The bill, which overrides certain aspects of Muslim personal law, was presented during the upcoming Monsoon session of the Assam Assembly. This move is widely seen as Assam's first stride towards introducing a uniform civil code.