Explorer

Qazi Can't Register Marriage In Assam Any More As State Passes Muslim Marriage Bill In Step Towards UCC

Assam Muslim Marriage Bill: The Assam Assembly passed a bill to eliminate child marriage in the Muslim community, aligning with the goals of a Uniform Civil Code.

Assam Muslim Marriage Registration Bill: In a step towards a Uniform Civil Code, the Assam Assembly today passed a Bill that seeks to do away with child marriage in the Muslim community. Soon after the Bill was passed, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Our government has only one objective: whether a daughter is Muslim or Hindu, she should not face injustice. I request the people of Assam to support us and confine this practice to the pages of history. This practice has no place in a modern Assam."

Dubbing August 28 'historic', CM Himanta said: "The Assam Assembly has passed the Muslim Marriage Registration Bill, 2024. After the implementation of the new law, registration of marriage with a minor will be considered a legal offence. Apart from this, the registration of Muslim marriages will be done by the government and not the Qazi."

CM Himanta said the Act will ensure that no one can contravene the legal age of marriage, which is 18 years for women and 21 for men. "It will also act as a strict deterrent against teenage pregnancy and improve the overall growth of our girls. I thank all the legislators who pledged their support to this Bill and the government's vision of preventing child marriage. This Bill is above party politics and is a means to give our girls a life of dignity," he said.

He also said that the next target for the Assam government is banning polygamy in the state.

The bill was tabled on August 22 by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan. It abolished the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935. The colonial-era law allowed the marriage of minors under specific circumstances. CM Himanta said: "The thought process of an independent nation must be distinct from that of a colonial entity."

CM Himanta said that Jammu and Kashmir has the highest Muslim population and even there, marriage is done by the state government and not the Qazi. Responding to the Opposition's apprehensions of Muslims being harassed at the sub-registrar's office, Himanta said that he was open to introducing the position of a special sub-registrar to register only Muslim marriages. "I shall ensure that child marriage will be extinct in Assam by 2026," he said.

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

'You Will Be Chief Minister Someday': Fadnavis Tells His Deputy Ajit Pawar, Shares 24-Hour Work Plan
'You Will Be Chief Minister Someday': Fadnavis Tells His Deputy Ajit Pawar, Shares 24-Hour Work Plan
'Motion' To Remove Jagdeep Dhankhar As Rajya Sabha Chairman Dismissed On Technicality. Here's What Happened
'Motion' To Remove Dhankhar As RS Chairman Dismissed On Technicality
Rahul Gandhi Sports Blue T-Shirt To Protest Ambedkar's 'Insult'. Know Why Blue Is Linked With Dalit Resistance
RaGa Sports Blue T-Shirt To Protest Ambedkar's 'Insult'. Know Why Blue Is Linked With Dalit Resistance
'I Never Thought...': Ravichandran Ashwin Responds To Father's Controversial Remarks
'I Never Thought...': Ravichandran Ashwin Responds To Father's Controversial Remarks
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Rahul Gandhi Linked to Incident That Led to BJP MP Mukesh Rajput’s HospitalizationBJP MP Mukesh Rajput Hospitalized in ICU After Alleged Push by Rahul GandhiHeated Exchange in Parliament as Opposition Targets Amit Shah Over Ambedkar RemarksLucknow Protest Turns Tragic: Congress Worker Dies, Police Investigation Underway

Photo Gallery

Embed widget