:: Assam Mandates Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces with New Bill

The Assam Assembly has enacted the ‘Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024,’ which mandates the official registration of all Muslim marriages and divorces in the state. This new legislation aims to enhance the protection and rights of women and girls, as outlined by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Introduced by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan, the bill requires that all Muslim marriages and divorces be registered with the government. This measure is intended to address issues such as child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and marital disputes, and ensure that marital agreements are documented and legally recognized.

Key aspects of the bill include:
- *Mandatory Registration*: All Muslim marriages and divorces must be officially registered with the state government, replacing the traditional system where marriages were recorded by Kazis.
- *Age Requirements*: Marriages involving individuals below the legal age—18 for women and 21 for men—will not be registered or considered valid.
- *Protection Against Child Marriage*: The legislation aims to prevent child marriages and enforce legal age requirements.
- *Rights and Protections*: The bill seeks to protect women’s rights by ensuring they can claim maintenance, inheritance, and other benefits. It also aims to address issues related to polygamy and the abandonment of spouses.

Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that the bill does not interfere with Islamic marriage rituals but seeks to ensure that all marriages comply with legal standards. He stated, “Our only condition is that Islam-prohibited marriages will not be registered.”

Additionally, the Assembly passed The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, which repeals The Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, and the Assam Repealing Ordinance 2024. This move marks a shift from traditional practices to a more regulated system aimed at safeguarding the rights of individuals within the community.

The new bill represents a significant change in the administration of marital laws in Assam, with the goal of improving legal clarity and ensuring the protection of women’s rights in marriage and divorce matters.

The Assam Assembly has enacted the ‘Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024,’ which mandates the official registration of all Muslim marriages and divorces in the state. This new legislation aims to enhance the protection and rights of women and girls, as outlined by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Introduced by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan, the bill requires that all Muslim marriages and divorces be registered with the government. This measure is intended to address issues such as child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and marital disputes, and ensure that marital agreements are documented and legally recognized.

Key aspects of the bill include:
- *Mandatory Registration*: All Muslim marriages and divorces must be officially registered with the state government, replacing the traditional system where marriages were recorded by Kazis.
- *Age Requirements*: Marriages involving individuals below the legal age—18 for women and 21 for men—will not be registered or considered valid.
- *Protection Against Child Marriage*: The legislation aims to prevent child marriages and enforce legal age requirements.
- *Rights and Protections*: The bill seeks to protect women’s rights by ensuring they can claim maintenance, inheritance, and other benefits. It also aims to address issues related to polygamy and the abandonment of spouses.

Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that the bill does not interfere with Islamic marriage rituals but seeks to ensure that all marriages comply with legal standards. He stated, “Our only condition is that Islam-prohibited marriages will not be registered.”

Additionally, the Assembly passed The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, which repeals The Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, and the Assam Repealing Ordinance 2024. This move marks a shift from traditional practices to a more regulated system aimed at safeguarding the rights of individuals within the community.

The new bill represents a significant change in the administration of marital laws in Assam, with the goal of improving legal clarity and ensuring the protection of women’s rights in marriage and divorce matters.