Assam govt to introduce new bill for Muslim marriage registration
In a bid to end the social menace of child marriage in the state, the Assam government has decided to introduce a new bill- Muslim Marriage Registration Bill 2024, to replace the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules, 1935 in the autumn session of the Assam legislative Assembly which will begin from Thursday.
The new legislation will prohibit Muslim marriages performed by Qazis in the state. “Under the new law, all Muslim marriages will be registered by the government marriage registrar in place of Qazis,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after a cabinet meeting on Thursday.
The state cabinet had already given its approval for the repeal of this act on July 18.
“Now the registration of Muslim marriages will be done by the government and not by the Qazi. The registration of child marriage will be deemed illegal according to the new law,” Sarma said.
The Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules, 1935 has a provision of minor marriage, which will be restricted by the government if the bill is passed by the house.
The state government has also decided to add a new clause Chapter 12 in the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act, 1886 for heritage structures of the state.
“We are focusing on the protection of land rights of the Indigenous people living in Batadrava, Barpeta, Majuli and Charaideo initially, Larter more places will be included as per the demand of the people,” he said.
“A 5 km area around a heritage structure -like a mandir or a namghar which is at least 250 years old-will be declared as a protected area. This implies that land in the area can be transacted only to the families who have resided there for three generations or more,” the Chief Minister said.
“We want to ensure after Moidams at Charaideo, the holy island of Majuli enters the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Hence we are bringing in certain restrictions on land transfer to protect the region,” he said.
“There will be no sale or purchase of land in these protected blocks. However, those who have already purchased land, will not be evicted,” Sarma said.
Apart from tribal blocks and belts, the state government has also decided to create micro-tribal belts and blocks in the areas dominated by SC and ST people.
A cabinet sub-committee led by ministers Ranoj Pegu, UG Brahma and Pijush Hazarika was constituted by the state cabinet in this regard. The committee has been asked to submit its report to the government by September 15.
The cabinet also formed another committee comprising ministers Ashok Singhal and JOgen Mohan to review the land value in Guwahati and other urban areas of the state.
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