Assam Approves Rules For Compulsory Registration Of Muslim Marriages

The Assam Cabinet has approved rules for the compulsory registration of Muslim marriages in the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday. The decision establishes a formal government-administered mechanism for registering Muslim marriages under the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024.

The newly approved Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026 are intended to provide a clear procedure for marriage registration through government-appointed marriage registrars. The move comes after the state enacted legislation in 2024 making registration of Muslim marriages and divorces compulsory.

Under the new system, Muslim couples will register their marriages with designated government marriage registrars instead of relying on the earlier system involving licensed Muslim registrars or Kazis. Sarma said the government had previously decided to end the registration of Muslim marriages through Kazis, but a mechanism was needed to ensure that couples could continue to obtain official marriage records.

The Chief Minister also indicated that the registration system could be expanded to the panchayat level if the number of applications increases. The move is expected to make registration more accessible, particularly for couples living outside major urban centres. The 2024 law replaced the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935. It introduced a compulsory framework covering both marriage and divorce registration and set out requirements for the authorities responsible for maintaining official records.

A major element of the legislation is its emphasis on the legal age of marriage. Under Indian law, the minimum marriageable age is 21 for men and 18 for women. The Assam framework does not permit registration of marriages that fail to meet the applicable legal age requirements. The state government has linked the legislation to its broader efforts to prevent child marriage.

Compulsory registration also gives couples an official government record of their marital status. Such documentation can be important in legal and administrative matters, including establishing a marriage for purposes where documentary proof is required. The legislation also contains provisions dealing with violations of the registration process. It provides penalties for offences including the use of forged marriage or divorce certificates and registration carried out in violation of the law.

The approval of the 2026 rules is therefore an important procedural step in implementing the 2024 legislation. While the Act established the legal requirement for compulsory registration, the new rules provide the administrative framework through which the registration process can be carried out. The change means that marriage registration will increasingly take place through a standard government-administered system, with designated officials responsible for maintaining the records. The government has also indicated that additional registration facilities could be created at the local level depending on demand.

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