The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Assam): Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, committed to eradicating child marriage in the state within the next two years, declaring a firm stance against such practices. “As long as Himanta Biswa Sarma is alive, child marriages cannot happen in Assam,” he asserted. This declaration was made during a session in the Assam Assembly where he discussed the abolition of the Assam Muslim Marriage Act, a longstanding law.
In a rigorous debate, CM Sarma criticized the opposition AIUDF MLAs and made a bold statement, challenging them and expressing his determination to end any businesses exploiting Muslim children through child marriages. This strong stance came after the state government, under his leadership, repealed the Assam Muslim Marriage & Divorce Registration Act of 1935 in a recent cabinet meeting. The Act, seen as outdated and a vestige of the British era, had provisions allowing child marriages, including those involving children as young as five or six years old.
Jayanta Mallabaruah, Assam’s cabinet minister, elaborated on the significance of this repeal, aligning it with steps towards a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He explained that Muslim marriages and divorces would now fall under the Special Marriages Act, with the District Commissioner and District Registrar responsible for registration. The change also entails the dismissal of 94 Muslim registrars who worked under the old Act, each receiving a lump sum payment of Rs 2 lakh as compensation.
This action against the old Act aligns with the state government’s vigorous campaign against child marriage, initiated in February of the previous year. This campaign led to thousands of arrests and the registration of numerous cases related to child marriage. CM Sarma announced that police operations would continue biannually until 2026, aiming to completely rid Assam of child marriage.
This initiative’s impact was evident in July last year when a police crackdown revealed 710 instances of child marriage, resulting in over 900 arrests. These efforts underscore the Assam government’s commitment to safeguarding children’s rights and establishing a legal framework that supports this mission.