GUWAHATI: The Assam cabinet on Saturday took up the issue of the introduction of the Union Civil Code (UCC) in the state, but there is no final decision on the issue.
“We discussed many things in the cabinet meeting. But I can tell you only after a final decision. I took the oath of secrecy of office and can’t tell what we discussed in the cabinet,” PHE minister and official spokesperson Jayanta Mallabaruah told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government is considering a UCC bill after the Uttarakhand government introduced a bill in the assembly on February 5.
The cabinet, however, gave its nod to the introduction of a new bill to ban all magical healing practices, including Christian healing.
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“To provide relief to victims of magical healing in the name of treatment the state cabinet approved Assam Healing (prevention of Evil practices) Bill, 2024 whereby any person found guilty of committing the illegal act in the name of treatment will be punished with imprisonment and a fine,” the minister said.
“The Bill will seek to prohibit and eliminate practices of magical healing in the name of treatment of some congenital diseases like dumbness, blindness, physical deformities, autism etc,” he said.
“The legislation will prohibit healing sessions completely and provide strong punitive action against healers extorting the poor and downtrodden people in the name of treatment,” he also said.
“Christian healing will also be brought under the ambit of this legislation,” Baruah said when asked.
The cabinet also approved a proposal for setting up an open zoo at Namdapha Reserve Forest at an estimated cost of Rs 259 crore.
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The cabinet also approved the Assam Village Defence Organisation Act, 1966 seeking an amendment to certain definitions, duties, powers and functions of the different stakeholders of the organisation.
The cabinet also gave a nod for an amendment to the Assam Municipal Act 1956 for efficient urban administration.
“The proposed bill seeks to define roles and responsibilities of three state municipal cadres- Assam Urban Administrative Service, Assam Urban Engineering Service and Assam Urban Financial Service for the municipality boards across the state,” the minister said.
“The cabinet approved amendment of the Assam Municipal Act 1956 for the creation of three posts. These posts will be appointed by the state government to streamline the municipal administration. The jobs will be transferable,” Baruah also said.
The cabinet also gave its approval for a new initiative Doh Sohor- Ek Rupayan (Ten City Development Concept) for the implementation of both Central and state government schemes at once for sustainable urban development.
Ten cities are Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Tezpur, North Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Silchar, Karimganj, Dhubri and Haflong or Diphu.