Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while addressing an assembly session on August 27, said that the state government is set to introduce a law in April 2025 which will make it compulsory for individuals to give six months’ notice before marriage. He claimed that although marriage is a revered and legally recognized institution, many are abandoning it as a result of eloping. This problem is intended to be resolved by the new law, which requires prior notification or registration. Concerns about couples meeting on social media, taking each other’s names, and falling in love were addressed by the chief minister of Assam. According to CM Sarma, these immoral behaviors threaten the institution of marriage.
He asserted that some people are abusing marriage, sealing the knot by tricking their partner with a phony online persona, and therefore undermining the sacred institution known as marriage. According to the Assam Chief Minister, couples planning to get married within the next six months must notify the government or send a notice to that effect, regardless of whether they are Hindus marrying Muslims, or Muslims marrying Hindus. He claimed that it would never be acceptable in Assam to get married while escaping your family or under a false name.
It is worth mentioning that this new law will be included in the state amendments of the Special Marriage Act 1954, which currently has a provision of issuing notice of one month. However, this new law will be applicable for inter-religious marriages only. Moreover, the Assam CM also suggested that a debate regarding demographic changes concerning Hindus and Muslims in the state should take place. He also highlighted the changing dynamics occurring in Lower Assam which has the potential to culminate into a human catastrophe. CM Sarma concluded by stressing upon the significance of debating and ultimately resolving the Hindu-Muslim issue, which he considers as the most pressing matter in the state.
