- By Soumyaroop Mukherjee
- Mon, 10 Nov 2025 02:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a major social reform initiative, the Assam Cabinet approved the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, on Sunday, thereby eliminating the practice of polygamy across the state, except for the places that fall under the Sixth Schedule areas. The Bill will be tabled at the legislative Assembly in the coming session starting from November 25.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the Lok Sewa Bhawan, marking a decisive step towards promoting gender justice and social harmony within the state.
Earlier, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to prohibit polygamy for all communities, including Muslims and Scheduled Tribes, after the implementation of the Universal Civil Code (UCC).
What Is Assam’s New Polygamy Prohibition Bill?
- Assam’s new Polygamy Bill seeks to prohibit any individual from entering into a new marriage if they already have a living spouse, are not separated legally, or have annulled their marriage through the decree of divorce.
- The Bill classifies polygamy as a cognizable offence, meaning that the accused will not be eligible for an immediate bail.
- According to the state government, the legislation has been framed to promote lawful and equitable marital relationships within the society.
- During the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Anybody, after the passing [in the Assembly] of this Bill, marrying for the second or third time will face imprisonment for seven years. And in this Bill, this offence has been made a cognizable offence, meaning they will not be given bail immediately."
- He further said that a special contingency fund will be established as a special compensation fund for women affected by polygamous marriages.
- “After the man is imprisoned, what will happen to the woman? Or, if she is a man’s second wife without her knowledge, the woman is the victim. Sometimes, the first wife is sent away from the house after a man marries a second woman. So, to ensure that no woman becomes a victim, we will keep a compensation fund," the chief minister added.
- The details and criteria of this compensation will be revealed once the bill is framed.
- The Bill will not apply to members of the Scheduled Tribe (ST). Additionally, the Bill will be implemented phase by phase in the six Scheduled Areas of Assam.
- The exemptions also extend to the Muslims residing in the Scheduled Areas before 2005.
- According to Sarma, these exemptions were put in place to respect the customary and community-based practices among tribal groups.