On Thursday, August 29, the Assam State Assembly passed the Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, which has officially ended the 89-year-old Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act and its associated rules from 1935.
The new legislation, known as the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024, aims to address issues related to child marriage and replace the existing ‘Qazi’ system used for registering Muslim marriages. The bill was introduced last week, and its discussions concluded in the assembly on Thursday.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma introdcued the Bill, stating, “We intend to remove the Qazi system from the Muslim marriage registration process and to prevent child marriages in the state.”
However, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) opposed the bill, criticizing the decision to abolish the Qazi system. AIUDF leader Aminul Islam expressed discontent, saying, “We are against child marriage, but the government should have amended provisions in the previous act instead of repealing it entirely. We might have to take this issue to court.”
The Assam Repealing Bill, 2024, aims to replace the Assam Repealing Ordinance, 2024, which sought to revoke the old act and its rules. The original 1935 Act was implemented during British rule to manage Muslim religious and social arrangements in Assam.
According to the new bill, the previous system was informal, with non-mandatory registration processes that led to non-compliance and potential misuse. Assam Minister Jogen Mohan highlighted concerns in the bill’s statement, noting that the old system allowed for underage marriages and lacked proper oversight, leading to legal disputes and potential misuse by marriage registrars and individuals.
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