Assam Cabinet Approves Muslim Marriage, Divorce Registration Bill. Check What It Proposes

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that through this Bill, the government wants to crackdown on child marriages.

Assam cabinet has approved the Muslim Marriage Registration Bill which will be tabled in the Assembly.

Source : PTI

The Assam Cabinet has given its nod for the Muslim Marriage Registration Bill, 2024 whereby the marriages will be registered by the government and not by Qazi. The Bill also proposes to make registration of child marriages illegal.

"Today the Assam Cabinet has approved the Muslim Marriage Registration Bill 2024," said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. 

"It has two special provisions: 1 Now the registration of Muslim marriages will be done by the government and not by the Qazi. 2 Registration of child marriage shall be deemed illegal," he said further. 

"Basically we want to attack on child marriage," the CM said in a press conference. 

आज असम कैबिनेट ने मुस्लिम विवाह पंजीकरण विधेयक 2024 की स्वीकृति दे दी है। इसमें दो विशेष प्रावधान हैं:

1️⃣ मुस्लिम विवाह का पंजीकरण अब क़ाज़ी नहीं सरकार करेगी।

2️⃣ बाल-विवाह के पंजीकरण को अवैध माना जाएगा। pic.twitter.com/nVOx7y0lpU

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 21, 2024

The Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriage and Divorce Bill, 2024 will be tabled in the legislative assembly during the upcoming session which will begin from Thursday, Sarma said. 

The Assam CM said that there will be no restriction on the rituals followed by Muslims during the wedding ceremonies, but only the registration by qazis has been restricted.

Last month, the Assam Cabinet approved a Bill to abolish the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules of 1935, which permitted underage marriages under specific conditions.

The Repealing Bill 2024 will be presented during the Autumn Session. 

Earlier this month, Sarma said that his government is ready with a proposed law mandating life imprisonment for anyone convicted of "love jihad". He announced in less than a week after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed a Bill amending the state's 2021 anti-conversion law to increase the punishment for offences linked to marriage or elopement from the current maximum 10-year jail term to life.

"We spoke about love jihad during the elections. It is a real and serious issue, involving forced conversions and deceitful romantic relationships. In the next few days, we aim to take steps to make this punishable with a life sentence," the CM said