Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while attending the Budget Session 2024 at the Assam Assembly Legislative Assembly in Dispur, pledged to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935 and abolish child marriage before 2026.
Nailing the Opposition – the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front or AIUDF – for protesting against the State cabinet’s decision by walking out of the Assembly, in a fiery speech the Assam CM said, “I want to make it loud and clear, till the time I am there, I will not allow you to play with the future of innocent Muslim children. I will bring an end to this exploitative business and will not allow a single child marriage to take place in Assam… I would like to challenge you politically. I will shut down this shop before 2026… We will not rest in peace until we completely close the shop that you people have opened to ruin the daughters of the Muslim community.”
#WATCH | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma speaks in the Assembly; says, "…Hear me carefully, as long as I am alive I will not let child marriage take place in Assam. I will not let this happen as long as Himanta Biswa Sarma is alive…I would like to challenge you politically, I… pic.twitter.com/PJgurSDOxz
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2024
The Assam cabinet, in a significant move, approved the Assam Repealing Ordinance, 2024, aimed at nullifying the antiquated British-era Marriage and Divorce Act. Notably, this legislation facilitated the voluntary registration of Muslim marriages and divorces, permitting the government to grant licenses to individuals to register such events upon application.
CM Himanta underscored that revoking the Act would provide Muslim women in the State respite from enduring “torture and exploitation” while aiding in curbing the prevalence of child marriage. “The longstanding plight of Muslim mothers, subjected to torment and exploitation, will finally cease with this legislation,” stated the CM.
He stressed while Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue of triple talaq nationally, the Assam legislation permitted Kazis to register marriages involving girls under 18, potentially leading to bail from the court. He emphasised that following the repeal, divorces would face increased scrutiny, and marriages involving girls under 18 would be prohibited from registration.
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