In an important decision on Friday, the Assam Cabinet repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage and Registration of Divorce Act, 1935 (Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act, 1935). The decision was taken during the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday night. This decision of the Assam government is considered to be the first step towards the UCC.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “On February 23, 2024, the Assam Cabinet took an important decision to repeal the age-old Assam Muslim Marriage and Registration of Divorce Act.
The Act included provisions allowing registration of marriages which included provisions allowing registration of marriages even if the legal age of the bride and groom is not 18 and 21 years. This move is considered to be another important step towards banning child marriages in Assam. ’’
Cabinet Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah described it as a big step towards UCC. He said that in the future all matters related to Muslim marriage and divorce will be governed as per the ‘Special Marriage Act’.
Speaking to reporters, he said that now the responsibility of registering Muslim marriages and divorces under the new structure will be in charge of the district commissioner and district registrar. The 94 Muslim registrars working under the repealed Act will also be relieved from their posts and a one-time sum of Rs 2 lakh will be given.
He also says that the old act of 1935 made the marriage of adolescents easier, which was enacted from the British Empire. The minister also said that the administration wants to resolve the issue of child marriage by repealing this law.