Law Against Polygamy 'Will Definitely Come': Assam CM As Govt-Constituted Panel Submits Its Report

An expert committee by the Assam government submitted its report as CM Himanta Sarma's dispensation looks to ban polygamy in the state through “legislative action”.

The Expert Committee formed to examine the legislative competence of the State Legislature to enact a law to end polygamy in Assam submitted its report to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday.

Source : Twitter/@himantabiswa

Guwahati: The Assam government on Sunday said that it has formed an expert committee to examine the legislative competence of the state legislature to enact a law to end polygamy in the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a tweet shared pictures of the committee handing over the report to him and the cover of the document. The Assam government on May 11 this year had constituted a four-member expert committee to examine the legislative competence of state legislature to enact a law to end polygamy in the state.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Today, the Expert Committee, formed to examine the legislative competence of the State Legislature to enact a law to end polygamy in Assam, submitted its report. Assam is now closer to create a positive ecosystem for women's empowerment irrespective of caste, creed or religion.”

Today, the Expert Committee, formed to examine the legislative competence of the State Legislature to enact a law to end polygamy in Assam, submitted its report. Assam is now closer of creating a positive ecosystem for women's empowerment irrespective of caste, creed or religion. pic.twitter.com/4sycOWwPhN

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 6, 2023

Addressing a presser in the state capital Guwahati later, the Assam Chief Minister said, “I have not yet read the report and the committee has given the opinion that the Assam government has the right to enact a law on polygamy but the President of India’s signature is required. Muslim law has no age of getting married, which contradicts with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), so we can include provisions of POCSO.”

“We have not yet decided whether the law will come into effect in September or during the budget session. Within this year, the law will definitely come but whether it will come in September, it has not been decided yet. If the Uniform Civil Code is enacted, then there will be no need of polygamy,” Sarma added.

The recommendations and contents of the report have not been made public.

The expert committee comprises Justice (Retired) Rumi Kumari Phukan as the chairperson, Assam Advocate General Debajit Saikia and Additional Advocate General Nalin S Kohli as members, and Nekibur Zaman as Advocate.

The committee had been given a deadline of 60 days to submit its report.

Prior to this, the Chief Minister had announced that the state government will move to ban the practice of polygamy in Assam through “legislative action”.

Sarma further said that this committee, comprising legal experts and scholars, would examine the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937 read with Article 25 of the Constitution of India; the directive principle of state policy.

The Chief Minister had emphasised that the ban on polygamy would be achieved through consensus and not aggression.

The writer is a senior independent journalist covering the Northeast.

Subscribe And Follow ABP Live On Telegram: https://t.me/officialabplive