Assam CM affirms his govt’s commitment to implement uniform civil code

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared in the assembly on Monday (February 26) that his government would introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) through the “front door”, clarifying that the UCC would not interfere with traditional practices and rituals.

During a discussion on the “Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill 2024”, CM Sarma emphasized that the UCC aims to regulate practices carried out with malicious intent, such as underage marriage, polygamy, inheritance laws and registration of live-in relationships.

Highlighting the recent passage of a similar Bill in the Uttarakhand assembly, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma reiterated that Assam would become the third state, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to introduce legislation for the UCC, with exemptions for tribal communities.

Addressing concerns raised by opposition leader Debabrata Saikia about the proposed legislation being a backdoor tactic for implementing the UCC, the Assam chief minister asserted that the government would bring the UCC through the “front door”.

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The Assam Healing Practices Bill, ultimately passed by a voice vote, aims to eliminate non-scientific healing practices, making “magical healing” by individuals with malicious intent a cognizable and non-bailable offense punishable by imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs one lakh.

Reflecting on the opposition’s reaction to repealing the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act 1935, CM Sarma expressed disappointment, particularly regarding child marriage.

He questioned whether the Congress and AIUDF supported marriages of five-six-year-olds and stressed the need for legislation to prohibit child marriage, advocating for legalizing marriages only for girls over 18 and boys over 21.