Assam Cabinet Approves New Rules for Muslim Marriage Registration
The Assam Cabinet has notified the Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026, to make the process of recording Muslim unions formal and administrative. These new rules, announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma following a Cabinet meeting in Guwahati on Thursday, replace the role of kazis with specific government registrars.
Legislative Framework
The administration developed this code under Section 25 of the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024. This parent Act received assent from the Governor on 19 October 2024 and was published in the Assam Gazette on 25 October 2024.
Registration Requirements
A woman must be at least 18 years old and a man must be at least 21 years old at the time of the wedding. Both participants must provide free consent and must not fall within prohibited degrees of relationship under Muslim law. Applicants must reside in the registrar’s district for at least 30 days before submitting a notice.
The process requires a 30-day notice period before the registration occurs, during which the public may file objections. Documentation of identity, age, and residence is mandatory for this filing.
Reporting and Legal Obligations
Registrars are legally required to report any underage marriages to the Child Marriage Protection Officer appointed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. This requirement also applies to divorce registrations, which must typically occur within one month of the event. The Gauhati High Court affirmed this obligation on 8 September 2026.
Background of the Regulatory Shift
Previously, Muslim marriage registration functioned under the colonial Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935. The government repealed the 1935 law with the passage of the 2024 Act in August 2024. While a 2010 amendment had made registration compulsory, the system relied on licensed kazis who acted as public servants.
Until the Uniform Civil Code, Assam, Bill, 2026, receives final Presidential assent and formal notification, the 2024 Act and the 2026 rules remain the operative legal framework.
Other Cabinet Decisions
During the same Cabinet meeting on 24 September 2026, the government also approved several other measures. These include a one-time Aadhaar enrolment exemption for members of women self-help groups until 31 March 2027, a Rs 796.88 crore project for wetlands and fisheries, and subsidized sugar at Rs 30 per kg for National Food Security Act beneficiaries throughout October.