Assam Cabinet Approves Repeal of 1935 Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act

The Assam Cabinet has given its nod to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The move aims to prevent child marriages in the state, as the existing law allows marriage registration even if the bride and groom have not reached the legal ages of 18 and 21, respectively.

Key Points:

The Assam Cabinet has approved the repeal of the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935.
The decision is aimed at preventing child marriages in the state.
The existing law allowed marriage registration even if individuals had not reached the legal ages of 18 and 21, as required by law.
The machinery of registration under the Act was informal, providing scope for non-compliance of norms.
The Act provided voluntary registration of Muslim marriages and divorces, and licenses were issued for the same.
After the repeal, Muslim Marriage Registrars will no longer register marriages and divorces.
District commissioners and registrars will take custody of registration records held by 94 Muslim Marriage Registrars.
A one-time compensation of ₹2 lakh each will be provided to Muslim Marriage Registrars for rehabilitation.
The Assam government aims to register such marriages under the Special Marriage Act.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has emphasized the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.
The UCC bill in Assam is expected to be brought in 2-3 months, exempting the tribal community.
The move aligns with Chief Minister Sarma’s commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Assam, following the recent passage of the UCC bill in Uttarakhand. The Assam government has been taking steps to address various aspects of personal laws and marriage registrations in the state.