Assam Cabinet Approves Bill to Stop Clerics from Registering Muslim Marriages

Guwahati: A new bill barring qazis or clerics from registering marriages of Muslims has received nod from the Assam Cabinet.

The Assam Compulsory Registration of Marriage And Divorce Bill approved by the state cabinet also prohibits registration of child marriages.

The bill nullifies certain provisions of Muslim personal law. It will be tabled during the Monsoon session of the Assam Assembly on Friday. It is said to be Assam’s first step towards implementing a uniform civil code in the state. As per the new legislation, Muslim marriages can only be registered by a sub-registrar.

“We have introduced a bill stipulating that no marriage involving individuals under 18 years of age will be registered. Furthermore, the authority for registration will be transferred from the qazi to the sub-registrar,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told at a press conference.

“Different communities have diverse cultures for marriage rituals. Our bill has no role in that. It has provisioned the marriage registration only by a government officer. The rest will remain the same whether it is for a Hindu marriage or for a Muslim marriage,” Sarma further said.

“Under the new law, no Muslim minor girl can register their marriage in the state from now on,” he said.