Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam Cabinet has approved new rules for the registration of Muslim marriages in the state.
Assam Approves New Marriage Registration Rules
The Assam government has approved the ‘Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026.’ This initiative aims to create a standardized process for mandatory marriage registration across the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced this decision during a press conference following a cabinet meeting.
He said if the number of applications increases, the government will gradually appoint some additional officers as registrars so that people do not face any difficulty in registering their marriages. The new law – The Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026 — makes the registration framework under the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024, compulsory and replaces a former legislation enacted in 1935 – Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act had provided for voluntary registration. Although a 2010 amendment made registration compulsory. The 2024 legislation weeds away provision of any Muslim marriage involving minors. The woman must be at least 18 years old and the man 21 years old at the time of marriage, according to the new law.
He said an earlier government decision had barred ‘kazis’ from registering Muslim marriages, but the alternative forum for registration was not mentioned. Sarma said the move is aimed at ensuring that Muslim marriages are properly registered through the government’s registration system.
