The chief minister also hinted at the state’s intention to move towards implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Polygamy will be banned in Assam from February 4 next year, state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced.
Speaking at Agenda Aaj Tak, the chief minister further outlined the forthcoming legislation that will restrict a man from marrying more than one woman in the state until a legal divorce is obtained. The proposed law is set to be officially implemented on February 4, a guwahatiplus.com report said on Friday.
“Our Muslim mothers, sisters, and brothers have shown tremendous support for this initiative, recognising the need for progressive change,” the chief minister was quoted as saying.
Sarma also hinted at the state’s intention to move towards implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
He highlighted that the ban on polygamy is just the initial phase of the broader UCC plan, which aims to standardise personal laws across diverse communities in the state.
The chief minister also announced that once the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code is successful in Gujarat and Uttarakhand, Assam will follow suit.
In October this year, Sarma shared the state government’s latest directive to end polygamy among government employees, saying second marriages when the wife/husband is alive wouldn’t be allowed without the state’s permission, “even if some religions allow”.
Sarma said the directions were according to the existing rules, which were not enforced earlier, but the state government decided to enforce them. The move was then seen in line with the state government’s efforts to ban polygamy.
