Himanta Sarma on Assam’s legislative competence to end polygamy
Expert committee submits report to Himanta Biswa Sarma on Assam’s legislative competence to end polygamy On Sunday, the report on examining the legislative competence of the state legislature to enact a law to end polygamy was submitted to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by an expert committee formed by the Assam government. Pictures of the committee handing over the report and the cover of the document were shared by Sarma on Twitter. “The report on examining the legislative competence of the state legislature to enact a law to end polygamy in Assam was submitted today by the expert committee. “Assam is now closer to the creation of a positive ecosystem for women’s empowerment, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion,” stated the chief minister. On May 12, the formation of the four-member expert committee headed by Justice (Retd) Rumi Kumari Phukan was announced by Sarma. Besides Phukan, the committee comprises of the state’s Advocate General Devajit Saikia, Senior Additional Advocate General Nalin Kohli, and senior Advocate Nekibur Zaman. On July 18, the term of the committee was extended by the Assam government for a month, from July 13 to August 12. The committee was initially given a deadline of 60 days to submit its report. It was tasked with scrutinizing the provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937, along with Article 25 of the Constitution concerning the Directive Principles of State Policy for a Uniform Civil Code. The decision of the government to ban polygamy immediately has been stated by Sarma, “We want to take one of its segments, polygamy, and ban it immediately. We are planning to introduce the Bill in the next Assembly session in September, and if we are unable to do it for some reason, we will do it in the January session.” The decision of the government has been slammed by the opposition parties as diversionary and communal, especially at a time when suggestions on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) are being received by the Law Commission. Expert committee submits report to Himanta Biswa Sarma on Assam’s legislative competence to end polygamy