Guwahati, Aug 22: The Assam government is set to introduce a bill in the upcoming Autumn Session of the Assembly, making it mandatory for Muslims to register their marriages and divorces with the government.

According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriage and Divorce Bill, 2024, will be tabled during the session starting today. The move aims to curb child marriages, as minor marriages were sometimes registered by Kazis earlier.

The bill will require all Muslim marriages to be registered at the Sub-Registrar’s Office, while allowing Muslims to continue with their traditional marriage rituals. The government claims this move will help prevent underage marriages and ensure proper documentation of marriages and divorces in the community.