Guwahati : Assam government’s approval of a new bill which bans qazis or clerics from registering marriage of Muslims is being seen as the first step of bringing about uniform civil code in the state.
The Assam Compulsory Registration of Marriage And Divorce Bill 2024 aims to strengthen the institution of Muslim marriage and authorize the state government as the registering authority of marriage and divorce.
The new bill will be tabled during the Monsoon session of the Assam Assembly on Friday.
The Bill will pave the way to provide safeguards and benefits of legal presumption especially to women and prevent the menace of child marriages.
Moreover, the introduction of this new Bill would make it compulsory for all married couples to get their marriages and divorces registered.
This new Bill is made in the line of Civil Code of Procedure for summon, notice etc. to ensure and find out the truth of application of all related issues.
It also aims to benefit the common people and protect them from all odds and evils besides legal recognition of their marriage and divorce.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, wrote, “Today the Assam Cabinet has approved the Muslim Marriage Registration Bill 2024.
“ It has two special provisions- Now the registration of Muslim marriages will be done by the government and not by the Qazi. Registration of child marriage shall be deemed illegal,” he added.
The procedures for Muslim marriage and divorce are overseen by qazis or clerics. Earlier this year, the government had repealed the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935 through an ordinance.
Sarma also said that the state government would soon bring a new law that would criminalise ‘love jihad’ and award stringent punishment to those found guilty.
The term ‘love jihad’ refers to alleged attempts by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls under the pretext of love.