Muslim Marriage Registration Bill 2024 approves by the Assam Cabinet

In a significant move, the Muslim Marriage Registration Bill 2024 has been approved by the Assam Cabinet. The registration process for Muslim marriages in the state will see a change after its enactment. As per the bill, the government will oversee the registration of Muslim marriages instead of a Qazi. The Assam Compulsory Registration of Marriage And Divorce Bill also prohibits registration of child marriages.

The bill, which repeals a number of Muslim personal law regulations, will be introduced on Friday during the Assam Assembly’s monsoon session. It’s thought of as Assam’s initial move toward implementing a common civil code. A sub-registrar will register Muslim marriages in accordance with the new regulations.

Cabinet decision shared by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on microblogging site ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter). “The Muslim Marriage Registration Bill 2024 has been passed by the Assam Cabinet today. It contains two unique provisions: the government, rather than the Qazi, will now register Muslim marriages. Child marriage registration will be considered unlawful, according to CM Sarma’s post.

Meanwhile, the Assam CM had also recently indicated that the state government is also working on introducing a new law that would criminalize ‘love jihad’ and award life imprisonment to those found guilty. Notably, the procedures for Muslim marriage and divorce are currently handled by qazis or clerics. Earlier this year, the government had repealed the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935 through an ordinance. Furthermore, CM Sarma added that the state will also bring in legislation to prevent inter-religious transfer of land.