Assam Minister Calls For Maturity Amid Marriage Act Repeal

Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika has responded to accusations from AIMIM leader Waris Pathan regarding the state cabinet’s decision to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, dismissing claims of it being ‘Anti-Muslim.’ Hazarika questioned the characterization, emphasizing the necessity of understanding the implications of repealing an 89-year-old law that allows the marriage between a minor girl and an adult male.

Pathan, in turn, accused the BJP government of fostering an ‘anti-Muslim’ agenda and suggested their motive was to garner votes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. In response, Hazarika took to social media, urging Muslim leaders to demonstrate maturity and prioritize the well-being of daughters over upholding outdated social norms.

Meanwhile, AIUDF leader Rafiqul Islam condemned the decision, alleging it as a calculated strategy to target Muslims. Islam contended that the Assam government lacks the fortitude to enact a Uniform Civil Code and speculated that the repeal of the Marriage Act serves as a substitute for such legislation. He insinuated that the government’s actions were driven by electoral tactics rather than genuine efforts towards social reform.

The Assam Cabinet’s move to revoke the ‘Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935’ was presented as a proactive measure against child marriage in the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded this step as a significant stride in combating underage marriages in Assam. As part of the repeal process, the government outlined the transfer of registration records from Muslim Marriage Registrars to District Commissioners and District Registrars, under the supervision of the Inspector General of Registration.

Providing context for the decision, the Assam Government cited the archaic nature of the law, highlighting its origins as a pre-Independence Act of the British era for the former Province of Assam.