The Assam Legislative Assembly has passed a landmark bill mandating the compulsory registration of all Muslim marriages and divorces in the state. The new legislation aims to ensure legal recognition and protection for Muslim women, enhance accountability, and streamline the process of marital documentation within the community. The bill, named the Assam Compulsory Registration of Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2024, marks a significant step toward empowering women and upholding their rights in marital and family matters.
Under the provisions of the bill, every Muslim marriage and divorce in Assam must be registered with the appropriate authorities within 30 days of the event. This applies to all marriages and divorces, regardless of the duration of the marriage or the manner in which the divorce is pronounced. The law stipulates that failure to comply with the registration requirement will result in a penalty, which may include a fine or other legal consequences.
The bill is designed to address several issues faced by Muslim women in the state, including the lack of formal documentation for marriages and divorces. This often leaves women vulnerable to social and economic hardships, as they may struggle to claim their legal rights, such as inheritance, maintenance, or custody of children, in the absence of official records. The compulsory registration process aims to provide a legal framework that recognizes these marriages and divorces, thereby offering greater protection to women and ensuring their rights are upheld.
Supporters of the bill, including lawmakers and women’s rights advocates, argue that the legislation will promote gender equality and safeguard women against practices like unrecorded divorces, arbitrary pronouncements of talaq (divorce), and other forms of exploitation. They emphasize that the mandatory registration of marriages and divorces will help build a robust legal database, enabling authorities to address grievances more effectively and providing women with a legitimate recourse to justice.
However, the bill has also faced criticism from some quarters. Opponents, including certain religious organizations and community leaders, argue that the law interferes with religious practices and the personal laws governing the Muslim