Assam’s New Bill for Muslim Marriage Registration and University Security Clearance
The Assam government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is preparing to introduce a significant bill in the upcoming state assembly session starting from August 22. This bill will make it mandatory for Muslim marriages and divorces to be registered by the government.
Details of the New Bill
During a state cabinet meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages Divorces Bill, 2024, was approved. Chief Minister Sarma explained that previously, Kazis conducted the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces. The new bill will transfer this responsibility to the government, specifically to the Sub Registrar of Assam. Additionally, no marriage registration will be allowed for individuals below 18 years of age. The primary goal of this bill is to combat child marriage.
Protected Areas Around Heritage Structures
Chief Minister Sarma also announced that a 5-km radius around heritage structures, such as Mandirs or Namghars that are at least 250 years old, will be declared protected areas. Land transactions in these areas will be restricted to families who have resided there for three generations or more. In Majuli, this protection will cover the entire district.
New Law for University Security Clearance
In addition to the marriage registration bill, the Assam government plans to introduce a new law requiring compulsory security clearance for opening universities in the state. This decision comes in response to institutions from Kerala expressing interest in establishing universities in Muslim-majority areas of Assam. The new law aims to ensure that only institutions with proper security clearance can open nursing, medical, and dental colleges in the state.
Chief Minister Sarma highlighted that the previous system, established by Congress, lacked provisions for security clearance. The new clause will address this gap and is expected to be implemented within 2-3 months.
Doubts Revealed
Assam -: Assam is a state in the northeastern part of India, known for its tea plantations and rich cultural heritage.
Bill -: A bill is a proposal for a new law. It needs to be discussed and approved by the government before it becomes a law.
Muslim Marriage Registration -: This means that the government wants to keep official records of marriages and divorces among Muslims to ensure they follow the law.
Chief Minister -: The Chief Minister is the head of the government in a state in India, similar to a principal in a school but for the whole state.
Himanta Biswa Sarma -: Himanta Biswa Sarma is the current Chief Minister of Assam, responsible for making important decisions for the state.
Child Marriage -: Child marriage is when children, usually under 18, are married. It is illegal and harmful to their health and education.
State Assembly -: The state assembly is a group of elected representatives who make laws and decisions for the state.
Security Clearance -: Security clearance means checking if something is safe and secure. Here, it means checking if new universities are safe to open.
Universities -: Universities are big schools where people go to study after finishing high school. They offer advanced education and degrees.
Kerala -: Kerala is another state in India, located in the southwestern part of the country, known for its beautiful backwaters and high literacy rate.
Muslim-majority areas -: These are places where most of the people living there follow the Muslim religion.
