Assam panel on banning polygamy submits report; law within this fiscal, says CM

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the committee has told the government that the state does have the right to formulate a law to ban polygamy

Updated on: Aug 6, 2023, 18:41:18 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the state government would enact legislation to ban polygamy within the current financial year.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. (File Photo)

The CM’s comments came after an expert committee formed by the state government to examine the competence of the state legislature to enact such a law submitted its report to him earlier in the day.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Assam had constituted a four-member committee headed by retired Guwahati high court judge Rumi Phukan in May to look into the issue and submit a report within 60 days.

“I have not gone through the contents of the report. The committee was entrusted with the task of finding out whether the state government can formulate a law to ban polygamy. The committee has told us that we do have such a right, but the legislation must be given final assent by the President and not the governor,” Sarma told journalists in Guwahati.

The CM said that since existing state laws on Muslim marriages don’t specify eligible age of the brides and groom, the committee also suggested keeping a provision to mention eligible age for marriage for all in the proposed polygamy law so that there’s no lack of clarity with that and rules under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

“We have Assembly session from September 16. We might table the legislation in that session or in the budget session early next year. We will need to give time to MLAs to discuss and debate the issue. But it is sure that the law will come into effect within the existing financial year,” he said.

Sarma said that views received on the issue from almost all communities in the state have shown that they welcome such legislation.

“Assam is now closer to creating a positive ecosystem for women’s empowerment irrespective of caste, creed or religion,” the CM said on X (formerly Twitter) after receiving the committee’s report.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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