Assam: Cabinet repeals Muslim Marriage Act citing move towards UCC

Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, taking a step towards achieving a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) , repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage & Divorce Registration Act, 1935.

The repealed Act previously governed registration of Muslim marriages and divorces through designated Muslim registrars.

Minister Jayanta Mallabarua claimed that this move was a step towards the government's goal of UCC, adding that all Muslim marriage-related matters will now be handled under the Special Marriages Act.

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Further, 94 Muslim registrars under the repealed Act will be discharged from their duties.

All of them would receive a one-time compensation of Rs 2 lakh each, said the minister.

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He added that this decision also aims to combat child marriage in the state, as the previous Act had witnessed instances of underage marriages being registered.

The government maintained that the Special Marriages Act already provides a secular framework for all communities, while there were some arguments that it disregards specific cultural practices.