The Muslim Marriage Act is repealed in Assam

The state administration on Friday made a significant move by repealing the long-standing Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act of 1935.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presided over a state cabinet meeting on Friday night when the decision was made.

It was implemented three weeks after Uttarakhand became the first state to pass laws implementing the Uniform Civil Code.

It was described by Cabinet Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah as a significant step toward a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

He made it clear that the Special weddings Act will henceforth apply to all issues relating to Muslim weddings and divorces.

Under the new arrangement, Muslim weddings and divorces will henceforth be registered by the District Commissioner and the District Registrar. In addition, he informed reporters that the 94 Muslim registrars who worked under the repealed Act will get a lump sum payment of Rs 2 lakh and be dismissed from their jobs.

The decision’s broader implications were also highlighted by Mallabarua, particularly in view of the state’s efforts to outlaw child marriage. He pointed out that the 1935 Act, an outmoded remnant of the British Empire, had made juvenile marriages easier.

The minister said, “By repealing this Act, the administration hopes to address the issue of child marriage, which is defined as the union of individuals under the ages of 18 for women and 21 for men.”