The Assam cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, made significant strides towards achieving a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by repealing the outdated Assam Muslim Marriage & Divorce Registration Act 1935. Cabinet Minister Jayanta Mallabarua highlighted that all matters concerning Muslim marriages and divorces will now be governed by the Special Marriages Act, effectively ending the registration of such events under the repealed Act.
Assam Cabinet Makes Strides Towards Uniform Civil Code
This decision, which includes compensating 94 Muslim registrars with Rs 2 lakh each and transferring registration authority to the District Commissioner and Registrar, aims to combat child marriage and streamline civil laws in the state.
In addition to civil law reforms, the Assam cabinet addressed linguistic and educational concerns by integrating tribal languages like Mising, Rabha, Karbi, Tiwa, Deori, and Dimasa into primary education as mediums of instruction. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy‘s emphasis on preserving mother tongues and revitalizing indigenous languages among younger generations. Furthermore, communities such as Ahoms, Koch Rajbongshis, and Gorkhas were granted protected class status in the Balipara Tribal Block, facilitating their land transactions.
The declaration of Manipuri as an associate official language in select districts and the establishment of the Assam Veterinary and Fishery University through the bifurcation of the Assam Agricultural University underscores the government’s commitment to linguistic diversity and specialized education in Assam.
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