• durgesh dubey
• 19 Jul, 2024

assam

The Assam government has announced its intention to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935 during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly, solidifying a decision made earlier this year to abolish the law.

The 1935 Act currently governs the registration process for marriages and divorces under Muslim personal law in the state. In February, the Cabinet endorsed the Assam Repealing Ordinance, 2024, paving the way for its repeal.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the government's commitment to justice, emphasizing that the move would provide additional protections against child marriage. He expressed this stance in a statement shared on social media platform X, where he underscored the decision as a crucial step in safeguarding the rights of daughters and sisters.

Moreover, Sarma announced plans to introduce new legislation in the next assembly session specifically addressing the registration of Muslim marriages in Assam.

The announcement follows Sarma's statement that the Muslim population in Assam has reached 40%, highlighting demographic shifts as a significant concern in the northeastern state. Speaking on the sidelines of a BJP meeting in Ranchi, Sarma, also serving as the party's Jharkhand election co-in charge, emphasized that for him, this demographic change is not merely a political issue but a critical matter of societal importance.

"As someone deeply connected to Assam, demographic change is a pressing issue," Sarma remarked, noting that the Muslim population has risen from 12% in 1951 to the current 40%. He underscored the gravity of this issue, characterizing it as vital to the state's future.

On Assam government's decision to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act 1935, AIUDF General Secretary Rafiqul Islam says, "... This act has been going on from 1935... It had no clashes with the Constitution of Assam and had no issues whatsoever. What was the need to suddenly repeal it? The Indian constitution allows Muslims to look into matters of marriage and divorce under personal laws... He is giving vague reasons that this act had provisions for child marriage because of which the government is repealing it... Now they want Muslims to register their marriages and divorce with the government. They just want to trouble people..."