Assam Approves Bill Banning Polygamy, CM Sarma Terms It a ‘Curse for Muslim Women’

The Assam Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, formally outlawing polygamy in the state.

The law—one of the most stringent measures against the practice in India—will take effect after receiving President Droupadi Murmu’s assent, expected in early December. The legislation introduces strict penalties: hiding an existing marriage could attract up to 10 years’ imprisonment, while entering a second marriage without dissolving the first may lead to up to seven years in jail. Repeat offenders will face double punishment. Clerics who officiate prohibited marriages may be fined up to ₹1.5 lakh, and withholding information from authorities could result in up to two years’ imprisonment.

The bill cleared the House after an extensive debate. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking in support of the legislation, called polygamy and child marriage “a curse for women in the Muslim society,” and said both practices deny women dignity and fundamental rights.

Sarma pointed to alarming instances—girls becoming mothers at 12, elderly men marrying teenagers, and minors being pushed into marriage because of economic hardship. He said the state’s crackdown on child marriage has intensified this year, with over 5,000 arrests, several cases under the POCSO Act, and trials underway. “People are afraid to engage in child marriage now,” he said.

The Chief Minister highlighted schemes such as Nijut Maina, under which 50,000 college-going girls have benefitted in 2025, resulting in higher enrolment and a sharp drop in college dropout rates. He said the polygamy ban builds on earlier women-focused initiatives, including Orunodoi, panchayat reservations, and government job quotas.

Responding to opposition criticism, Sarma said the bill represents “politics for the empowerment of women from marginalised communities.” He noted that minor girls are sometimes married off to settle land disputes, leaving them vulnerable to abuse. He also pointed out that no woman MLA from the minority community has been elected since Anowara Taimur.

Sarma further stated that if returned to power, his government will work toward implementing a Uniform Civil Code in Assam and raising the legal marriage age for women to 21 years.