The Assam Cabinet has approved a new bill barring qazis or clerics from registering marriages of Muslims. The Assam Compulsory Registration of Marriage And Divorce Bill also prohibits registration of child marriages.

The bill, which nullifies certain provisions of Muslim personal law, will be tabled during the Monsoon session of the Assam Assembly on Friday. It is being seen as Assam's first step towards bringing a uniform civil code. As per the new legislation, registration of Muslim marriages will be done by a sub-registrar.

"We have introduced a bill stipulating that no marriage involving individuals under 18 years of age will be registered. Furthermore, the authority for registration will be transferred from the qazi to the sub-registrar," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference.

"Different communities have diverse cultures for marriage rituals. Our bill has no role in that. It has provisioned the marriage registration only by a government officer. The rest will remain the same whether it is for a Hindu marriage or for a Muslim marriage," Sarma further said.

The Chief Minister said previously, marriage between Muslim boys and girls below 21 and 18 years of age, respectively, could be registered.

"Under the new law, this practice will be prohibited. No Muslim minor girl can register their marriage in the state from now on," he said.

The procedures for Muslim marriage and divorce are overseen by qazis or clerics. Earlier this year, the government had repealed the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935 through an ordinance.

Several Muslim organisations across Assam have requested the Chief Minister to reinstate the qazi system.

Sarma also said that the government would bring a new law that would criminalise 'love jihad' and award life imprisonment to those found guilty. The term 'love jihad' refers to alleged attempts by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls under the pretext of love.

Source: India Today