Guwahati: In the first marriage in Assam, it can be overwhelming to get married for the second time. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government is bringing a law in which those who marry again without divorce will have to face jail time. It has been banned in the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand, and now the Assam government is preparing to bring a similar strict law.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government is preparing to bring a strict law to curb polygamy in the state. Explaining the provisions, Sarma said that under the proposed law, anyone who marries another without legally divorcing his spouse through the court will face stiff punishment.
“Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, the chief minister said, “”We will bring a law against polygamy in Assam.” The law will be introduced in the Assembly on November 25. If someone marries again without divorce, they can be sentenced to seven years or more in prison.
The Assam Chief Minister said the proposed law is part of the state government’s broader effort to promote gender equality, protect women’s rights and maintain the sanctity of marriage. Sarma said Assam is taking decisive steps to ensure that individual laws and social practices are in line with the constitutional principles of equality and justice.
There is already a law in the country:
Second marriage without divorce is still a legal offence in the country. According to the law, remarriage without ending a first marriage carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison and a fine. This rule applies to all religions, except Muslim personal law, in which the man is allowed to marry more than one with limited conditions.
