Guwahati: The Assam government, in a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, July 18, made a significant decision to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules 1935. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa shared a picture of the meeting on X, stating that the move aims to ensure justice for women and protect them from the social menace of child marriage.
The Cabinet has approved The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024 which will repeal the outdated Act and Rules, bringing parity in the registration of marriage and divorce. This decision was first approved by the Cabinet in February of this year and has now been authorized to be implemented through the Repealing Bill.
The CM has also directed for a suitable legislation to be brought for registration of Muslim marriages in Assam, to be considered in the next session of the Assembly.
This move has been lauded as a significant step towards prohibiting child marriages in the state. However, it has faced criticism from opposition parties who view it as discriminatory against Muslims and an attempt to polarise voters in an election year.
The Repealing Bill will be presented in the next Monsoon session for consideration, further solidifying the government’s commitment to promoting gender equality and protecting women’s rights in Assam.
