On May 12, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had declared the establishment of a four-member expert committee, with Justice (Retd) Rumi Kumari Phukan as its chairperson.
Shortly after receiving the expert committee’s report on the state’s competence to enact laws ending polygamy, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Sunday that legislation on the subject will be introduced within this financial year. The committee unanimously agreed that the state can frame its own laws to end polygamy, suggesting that the President’s assent, instead of the Governor’s, would be required for the final approval.
Addressing a press conference, the chief minister confirmed that Assam will indeed introduce a law to end polygamy within the current financial year. He shared pictures of the committee handing over the report, stating that this move would create a positive ecosystem for women’s empowerment, regardless of caste, creed, or religion.
The expert committee, led by Justice (Retd) Rumi Kumari Phukan and comprising other legal experts, had its term extended by a month and was tasked with scrutinizing relevant provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937, and Article 25 of the Constitution concerning the Directive Principles of State Policy for a Uniform Civil Code.
On an earlier occasion, the Assam government had expressed support for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and aimed to immediately ban polygamy in the state. Although the UCC’s comprehensive implementation is a matter for Parliament, the state can proceed with banning polygamy with the President’s assent.
Despite opposition parties criticizing the government’s decision, considering ongoing discussions on the UCC by the Law Commission, the government remains determined to address the issue of polygamy legislatively.