Report on Assam’s Legislative Competence to End Polygamy is submitted by an expert committee

On Sunday, the Assam government-created expert committee delivered its final report to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The group was established to investigate whether the state legislature had the authority to pass a legislation outlawing polygamy.

Sarma posted images of the study’s cover and the committee giving him the report on Twitter.

“Today, the expert committee established to look into the state legislature’s ability to pass a bill to outlaw polygamy in Assam delivered its findings.

Regardless of caste, race, or religion, Assam is getting closer to establishing a supportive environment for women’s empowerment, according to the chief minister.

The report’s recommendations and contents have not yet been made public.

On May 12, Sarma had made the four-person expert group, led by Justice (Ret.) Rumi Kumari Phukan, public.

The committee also includes senior advocate Nekibur Zaman, senior additional advocate general Nalin Kohli, and state advocate general Devajit Saikia in addition to Phukan.

The committee’s tenure was extended by the Assam government on July 18 from July 13 to August 12.

The original timeframe for the committee to submit its findings was 60 days. Its duty was to examine the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act of 1937’s provisions in accordance to the Directive Principles of State Policy for a Uniform Civil Code, as well as Article 25 of the Constitution.

Sarma said that on July 13, the Assam government informed the relevant parties that it supported the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and sought to outlaw polygamy right away in the state.

Parliament would decide on the UCC, but the state might potentially make a decision with the President’s approval, he had noted.

“We want to outlaw polygamy, one of its components, right now. If for any reason we are unable to propose the Bill in the next Assembly session in September, we will do it in the session in January, Sarma had said.

Particularly at a time when the Law Commission is receiving ideas on the UCC, the opposition parties have criticized the government’s choice as communal and diversionary.