Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Forms Expert Panel To Ban Polygamy In State

Guwahati: Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, announced on Tuesday that his government would investigate whether the state might outlaw polygamy. This is seen as the BJP-ruled state moving closer to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

The government has also formed an expert panel to look into the legality of the state government’s decision to outlaw polygamy in the state.

“The Assam Government has decided to form an expert committee to examine whether the state Legislature is empowered to prohibit polygamy in the state. The committee will examine the provisions of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937 read with Article 25 of the Constitution of India, Vis-a-Vis the directive principle of state policy,” said the chief minister in a tweet.

The Assam Government has decided to form an expert committee to examine whether the state Legislature is empowered to prohibit polygamy in the state. The committee will examine the provisions of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937 read with Article 25 of the Constitution…

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 9, 2023

“The committee will engage in extensive discussions with all stakeholders, including legal experts, to arrive at a well-informed decision,” he added.

This comes after the Supreme Court announced that a five-judge Constitution bench will be established to hear arguments over the constitutionality of Muslim polygamy and the practise known as “nikah halala.”