The Crossbill News Desk
The Assam Assembly on Thursday (November 27) approved a proposal aimed at curbing polygamy in the state, giving its nod to the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025.
The legislation, which prescribes imprisonment of up to 10 years for violators, excludes people from Scheduled Tribe communities and regions governed under the Sixth Schedule, news agency PTI reported.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while steering the bill through the House in his capacity as home and political affairs minister, emphasised that the new law is “irrespective of religion and not against Islam as being perceived by a section”.
Stressing its universal applicability, he added, “The Hindus are not free from polygamy. That's also our responsibility. This bill will cover people from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all other societies.”
Despite Sarma’s appeal for a unanimous passage to signal a collective commitment towards women’s empowerment, the AIUDF and CPI(M) persisted with their proposed amendments. All such suggestions were ultimately defeated by voice vote.
Addressing the broader goal of legal uniformity, Sarma reiterated his commitment to introducing a Uniform Civil Code in Assam if the electorate returns him to power in next year’s Assembly elections.
“I assure the House that if I return as CM, the UCC bill will be tabled on the first session of the new government and will be implemented,” he said, calling the current ban on polygamy a step towards that direction.
He further informed the Assembly that a separate bill targeting “deceptive marriage” will be introduced by the end of February.
“A bill against deceptive marriage will be brought in during the session by February end. So, whatever we have spoken about love-jihad, we will do that,” the Chief Minister said, recalling his earlier announcement that the government intended to ban what it refers to as love-jihad.
The legislation, which prescribes imprisonment of up to 10 years for violators, excludes people from Scheduled Tribe communities and regions governed under the Sixth Schedule, news agency PTI reported.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while steering the bill through the House in his capacity as home and political affairs minister, emphasised that the new law is “irrespective of religion and not against Islam as being perceived by a section”.
Stressing its universal applicability, he added, “The Hindus are not free from polygamy. That's also our responsibility. This bill will cover people from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all other societies.”
Despite Sarma’s appeal for a unanimous passage to signal a collective commitment towards women’s empowerment, the AIUDF and CPI(M) persisted with their proposed amendments. All such suggestions were ultimately defeated by voice vote.
Addressing the broader goal of legal uniformity, Sarma reiterated his commitment to introducing a Uniform Civil Code in Assam if the electorate returns him to power in next year’s Assembly elections.
“I assure the House that if I return as CM, the UCC bill will be tabled on the first session of the new government and will be implemented,” he said, calling the current ban on polygamy a step towards that direction.
He further informed the Assembly that a separate bill targeting “deceptive marriage” will be introduced by the end of February.
“A bill against deceptive marriage will be brought in during the session by February end. So, whatever we have spoken about love-jihad, we will do that,” the Chief Minister said, recalling his earlier announcement that the government intended to ban what it refers to as love-jihad.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment