Assam Passes Bill to Ban Polygamy

The government of Assam has taken a landmark step by approving the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill 2025. This move aims to prohibit the practice of polygamy — entering into more than one marriage while a first marriage subsists — making it a punishable offence. The legislation reflects the state’s push toward legal uniformity in marriage practices and reinforcing women’s rights.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• The Bill seeks to make it illegal for an individual to marry another person if their first marriage still stands (i.e., they are not legally separated or divorced).
• Offenders could face imprisonment for up to 7 years for violating the law.
• A provision in the Bill allows for the establishment of a special compensation fund for women adversely affected by polygamous marriages.
• The Bill will be tabled in the Assembly (scheduled for 25 November 2025) for legislative approval.

Exemptions & Special Conditions

• The law will not apply to members of Scheduled Tribes (STs) or to residents of areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in Assam.
• Marriages within minority communities, specifically Muslim marriages in Scheduled Areas that occurred before 2005, are also stated to remain outside the scope of the Bill.

Why This Bill Matters

• Gender justice: By criminalising polygamy, the state aims to protect women from the legal ambiguity and economic vulnerabilities that often characterise such marriages.
• Legal uniformity: This move is part of a broader reform agenda in Assam to bring marriage laws closer to a more uniform system across communities.
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• State legislative competence: An expert committee had earlier concluded that Assam has the power to enact such a law, since marriage and divorce are listed under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
• Precedent for other states: If enacted, Assam’s law could serve as a model for other states considering reforms in personal laws and marriage regulation.