Muslim marriage and divorce law repealed in Assam, Cabinet approves

Assam News: The Assam Cabinet on Friday decided to repeal the 89-year-old law related to registration of marriages and divorces by Muslims living in the state. Regarding this, Tourism Minister Jayant Malla Barua said that our Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had already announced that Assam will implement the Uniform Civil Code. Today we have taken a very important decision in that direction by deciding to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935.

What was the provision in the old law

The Act provided for voluntary registration of Muslim marriages and divorces and required the Government to grant a license authorizing a Muslim person to register Muslim marriages and divorces on application for such registration. Tourism Minister Barua said that after today's decision, it will no longer be possible to register Muslim marriages and divorces under this law in Assam. We already have a special marriage act and we want all marriages to be registered under its provisions.

The rights of those who arrange marriage and divorce are abolished

Minister Jayant Malla Barua said that currently there are 94 authorized persons in Assam who can register Muslim marriages and divorces. But with the Cabinet decision, their authority will end once the district authorities issue instructions for the same. "Since these persons were earning livelihood by registering marriages and divorces, the state cabinet has decided to provide them a lump sum compensation of ₹2 lakh each," Barua said.

Child marriages were being conducted under this law

Baruah said that apart from being a step forward towards a Uniform Civil Code, the Cabinet felt it was necessary to repeal the Act, which was outdated and dates back to the British era and does not match today's social norms. Was. The minister said, “We had observed that this existing law was being used to register marriages of boys and girls below the acceptable age. We feel that today's step will be a big step in stopping such child marriages.