The Assam Cabinet, on July 18, greenlit a significant legislative change with the approval of the Assam Repealing Bill 2024.
This Bill seeks to abolish the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules of 1935, a move aimed at reinforcing the state’s commitment to curbing child marriage.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision and pointed out that the repeal marks a crucial step towards gender justice and equality.
The Act, which has been censured for permitting underage marriages under certain conditions, is to be formally repealed through the forthcoming Bill, which will be introduced in the Monsoon Session of the Assembly.
“This decision is a significant step to ensure justice for our daughters and sisters by adding more safeguards against child marriage,” Sarma stated.
He added that the move is part of a broader effort to bring parity in marriage and divorce registrations and to address the social issue of child marriage.
The Cabinet had first approved the decision to repeal the Act on February 23, 2024.
The Act's provisions, allowing marriage registrations even if the bride and groom were below the legal ages of 18 and 21, respectively, were seen as inconsistent with modern legal standards.
The Repealing Bill 2024 will now be presented to the Assembly for consideration in the upcoming Monsoon Session.
Alongside this, the Cabinet has instructed that a new legislative framework be introduced for the registration of Muslim marriages in Assam, to be discussed in the next Assembly session.
Opposition parties have criticised the move, alleging it to be discriminatory towards Muslims and suggesting it may be a tactic to polarise voters in an election year.
Despite this, the Cabinet remains firm on its stance, arguing that the reform is necessary to align with legal standards and protect children.
In addition to the repeal, the Cabinet made several other decisions during Thursday’s meeting.
The VAT on compressed natural gas (CNG) was reduced from 14.5% to 5%, a measure expected to last until March 31, 2027.
This decision aims to promote the use of clean fuel and combat air pollution.
Funds were also approved for the development of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas.
A total of ₹401.50 crore has been allocated as the first installment for fiscal year 2024-25 under the Special One-Time Grant (SOPD-G) fund.
Significant financial approvals were granted for healthcare initiatives.
The Assam Cancer Care Foundation will receive ₹200 crore to support the Assam Cancer Care Project, which includes the establishment of 17 cancer care hospitals. This project is anticipated to benefit approximately 30,000 patients annually.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved ₹375 crore for the Mukhya Mantri Ayushman Asom Yojana (MMAAY) for 2024-25.
This scheme provides cashless medical benefits of up to ₹5 lakh per year for around 36 lakh families, ensuring continued free treatment for the underprivileged.
In a move to ensure effective governance, Cabinet ministers have been mandated to visit the three Barak Valley districts every month for three days on a rotational basis.
This initiative is aimed at improving the implementation of governance initiatives and addressing regional concerns.
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