Assam passes bill for compulsory registration of Muslim marriages
This story was originally published at 22:10 IST on 29 August 2024
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NEW DELHI – The Assam Legislative Assembly today passed a bill that makes it mandatory for Muslims in the state to register marriages and divorces with the government. The Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024, the state government said, will act as a deterrent to child marriages.
The bill seeks to prevent marriages without the consent of both parties and to also check polygamy in the community. It also enables married women to claim their rights to live in their matrimonial house and have provisions for maintenance. The bill strengthens the institution of marriage, the government claimed. It also has provisions to enable widows to claim inheritance rights after their husbands die.
Earlier, Muslim marriages were registered by a kazi, or magistrate of a local religious court, in the state.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma termed the bill "historic" and saud it would fight the social evil of child marriage. "This act will now make it mandatory to register marriages with the 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," Sarma said.
The assembly also passed the Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, to repeal the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935. The Bill was adopted by the government of British India for the then Province of Assam for Muslim religious and social arrangements. Under it, registration of marriages was not mandatory and was informal, leaving scope for non-compliance with extant norms.
The opposition All India United Democratic Front raised objections to the abolition of the kazi system. The party said it would approach the courts.
Reported by Kuldeep Singh
Edited by Rajeev Pai
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