The Assam government has passed ‘Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025’ with strict punishment including jail-term.
Assam has passed a bill to ban Polygamy and making it an offence that can lead up to 10 years of jail. Polygamy is a practice of marrying more than one person at a time. In this, a man can have multiple wives or a woman having multiple husbands.
- The bill passed in the Assam Assembly prohibits and eliminates practices of polygamy and polygamous marriage in the state of Assam and matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
- The draft law will apply across the state, except in Sixth Schedule areas, and to the members of any Scheduled Tribe within the meaning of clause (25) of Article 366, read with Article 342 of the Constitution of India.
- The bill proposed a 7-year imprisonment for any offenders for unlawful polygamy and a 10-year imprisonment for concealing a previous marriage.
- Additionally, under the new act, compensation and legal protection will be provided for women in illegal marriages. An offender with repeated violence will face stricter penalties.
- “The Gaonburah, Village Head, Quazi, parents or the legal guardians of the contracting party of the polygamous marriage, shall if, dishonestly or fraudulently hides, and intentionally takes part in the performance or solemnization of polygamous marriage, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years and shall be liable to a fine which may be extended upto Rs 1 lakh,” said in the bill.
- It kept people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category and areas under the Sixth Schedule out of the purview of the legislation.
What Assam CM Himanta Bisawa Sarma Said on anti-Polygamy Bill
During the passage of the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the portfolio of the home and political departments, said the law is “irrespective of religion and not against Islam as being perceived by a section”.
Speaking at the Assembly after the bill was tabled, Himanta Biswa Sarma cited the example of Turkiye to justify the need for the bill. He said that the bill is “not against Islam” and urged people to back the bill and be a “true muslim.”
“Islam can’t promote polygamy. If this bill passes, then you will get a chance to be a true Muslim. This bill is not against Islam. The true Islamic people will welcome this Act. Countries like Turkey have also banned Polygamy, there is an arbitration council in Pakistan…,” Assam CM said.
“The Hindus are not free from polygamy. That’s also our responsibility. This bill will cover people from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all other societies,” he added.
Despite the CM’s request to all opposition members to withdraw their respective amendments to send a message from the House that the bill is passed unanimously to empower women, AIUDF and CPI(M) went aheadwith their modification suggestions, which were defeated by voice vote.
Himanta Biswa Sarma on UCC
Talking about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Sarma said this will be implemented in Assam if he becomes the CM again after the Assam assembly polls next year.
“I assure the House that if I return as CM, the UCC bill will be tabled on the first session of the new government and will be implemented,” Sarma said.
