Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the Assam government will present a bill in the Autumn Session of Assembly that will make registering Muslim marriages and divorces in the sub-register office compulsory.
CM Sarma said that the government will present the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorce Bill, 2024, during the session.
The assembly session starts on 22nd August. Sarma said, ‘In the past, Kazis recorded Muslim marriages. But this new bill will ensure that every marriage in the community is officially recorded with the government’.
‘Before the proposed bill, minor marriages were also registred by the Kazis; however, this will no longer be permitted’, said CM Sarma. He continued, ‘Minor marriage registration won’t take place going forward. Child marriage is a threat that we wish to eradicate. Thus, he continued, quoting cabinet decisions, the marriages will be registered at the Sub-Registrar’s Office’.
CM Sarma said that the only thing regulated is the Kazis registration; there will be no restrictions on the Muslim customs observed during marriage ceremonies.
Moreover, the Assam government will introduce a bill in the current session of the assembly which will restrict the sale and buying of land in the 5-kilometre radius of the religious heritage site Batadrava Satra, Barpeta Satra and Majuli river island.
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