Less than three weeks after Uttarakhand became the first state in independent India to pass legislation on a Uniform Civil Code, Assam has taken its first step towards a similar law and decided to repeal the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act.
Making the announcement on Friday, Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the decision has been taken by the cabinet. Sources said a bill is likely to be tabled in the Assam Assembly, which is scheduled to be in session till February 28.
Pointing out that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said several times, including after the passage of the Uttarakhand bil on February 7, that Assam is planning to bring in legislation on a Uniform Civil Code, Mr Baruah said, “A very important decision has been taken in line with that. The Assam Muslim Marriage & Divorce Registration Act, 1935, will be repealed and no Muslim marriage or divorce will be registered under the Act. We want all such matters to be under the Special Marriage Act.”
