Bill to Repeal Muslim Marriage

22-Aug-2024: The Assam government on  introduced a Bill to repeal an 89-year-old law on the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces, stating that it has a “scope of misuse” to allow child marriage. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan tabled The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, in the 126-member House to abolish The Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935. It was introduced a day after the State Cabinet approved the draft law regulating the registration of Muslim marriages apart from two others seeking to protect heritage sites and tribal lands. Mr. Mohan said in the statement of object and reasons that the British-era Act was introduced in the erstwhile province of Assam for Muslim religious and social engagements.

“There remains a scope of registering marriages of the intended person below 21 years (in case of male) and 18 years (in case of female),” he said, pointing out that the implementation of the Act is hardly monitored in the State and attracts litigations.

“There is a scope of misuse by both authorised licensees (Muslim marriage registrars) as well as by citizens for underage/minor marriages and forcefully arranged marriages without the consent of the parties,” Mr. Mohan said.