The Assam Cupboard has given the nod to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935 in a bid to finish youngster marriage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned.
“This Act contained provisions allowing marriage registration even if the bride and groom had not reached the legal ages of 18 and 21 respectively, as required by law. This move marks another significant step towards prohibiting child marriages in Assam,” the Chief Minister posted on X.
The district commissioners and district registrars will probably be authorised to take “custody of registration records” at the moment with 94 Muslim Marriage Registrars on repeal of the laws underneath total supervision and management of the Assam Inspector Normal of Registration.
“A one-time compensation of ₹2 lakh will be provided to Muslim Marriage Registrars for their rehabilitation after the Act is repealed. The decision to repeal the Act was taken at a late-night Cabinet meeting on February 23 as it is an obsolete pre-independence Act of the British for the then province of Assam,” the CM mentioned.
“Registration of marriages and divorces is not mandatory as per the Act and the machinery of registration is informal, leaving a lot of scope for non-compliance with extant norms,” he mentioned.
It was identified on the assembly that as per the provisions of the Act, there stays scope for registering marriages of meant individuals beneath 21 years for males and 18 years for girls and there may be hardly any monitoring for implementation of the Act.
The Chief Minister had earlier mentioned that the State authorities was planning to carry a Invoice to finish polygamy.
An skilled committee had submitted a report on the Meeting’s competence to finish polygamy following which 150 ideas have been obtained concerning the proposed Invoice to finish the social menace within the State. The Chief Minister had mentioned that his authorities was in assist of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) however desires to ban polygamy instantly within the State.
“The UCC is a matter which will be decided by Parliament but the State can also take a call with the assent of the President,” he mentioned.
“The State government had launched a crackdown against child marriage in the State in two phases last year and it was found that many elderly men married multiple times and their wives were mostly young girls, belonging to the poor section of the society,” Mr. Sarma had mentioned earlier.
Within the first part in February final 12 months, 3,483 individuals have been arrested and 4,515 circumstances registered in February, whereas 915 individuals have been arrested and 710 circumstances registered within the second part in October final 12 months.