Assam Assembly Passes Bill Banning Polygamy; Stringent Penalties Proposed


Guwahati (Same Day): The Assam Assembly on Thursday passed the Assam Polygamy Prohibition Bill, introducing stringent legal penalties aimed at curbing the practice of polygamy in the state.

Under the provisions of the Bill, individuals entering into two or more simultaneous marriages will face imprisonment of up to seven years. The legislation also stipulates a harsher penalty up to ten years in jail for those who conceal an existing marriage at the time of entering into a new one.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, defending the Bill during the debate, asserted that the legislation does not target any particular community. “This Bill is not against Islam. True Islamic principles do not endorse polygamy. Genuine followers of Islam will welcome this reform,” he said.

The state government had earlier argued that the move was necessary to ensure gender justice and align personal practices with constitutional rights. The Bill is part of a broader set of reforms the Assam government has been pursuing in the domain of social and family laws.

The legislation now awaits further procedural steps before being implemented. Opposition members, while raising concerns about the legislative intent and possible social implications, staged limited protests but failed to prevent the Bill’s passage.

With this move, Assam becomes one of the few states to introduce a specific legal framework addressing polygamy, marking a significant shift in the ongoing national discourse on uniform civil reforms.

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