Assam to introduce law mandating six months prior notice for inter-religious marriage

The government will introduce a law in April 2025 requiring individuals to give six months' notice before marriage, said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Assam Assembly. 

He stated that marriage is a legally recognised and respected institution, which is losing respect due to people eloping. 

The new law aims to address this issue by mandating prior registration or notification. Sarma expressed concerns over couples meeting on social media, changing their names, and falling in love, which he believes undermines the institution of marriage.

"We will bring this law to stop love jihad. Instant marriages are not allowed even today as the Special Marriage Act, of 1954 has a provision of one month notice. We will extend the period to six months for inter-religious marriages," Himanta Biswa Sarma told India Today NE.

The Assam CM claimed that the sanctity of the pious institution called marriage is losing its name due to individuals who are trying to get married by fooling the second person by changing their names on Social Media. 

"Marriages take place in an institutional manner in a systematic way. I don't use the word "Love Jihad", but the way the marriages are taking place, this cannot be the foundation of a prosperous family. For a prosperous family, there is a certain dignity of marriage. When individuals try to break that decorum, then that marriage can never be accepted into the legal fold of an institution. Hence we are bringing a law in April 2025 and we need your support. and the law says, 6 months prior to marriage, couples have to submit a notice," said Himanta Biswa Sarma in the assembly.

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Further Sarma asserted that Hindu marrying a Hindu or a Hindu marrying a Muslim or a Muslim marrying a Muslim, couples have to notify the government or send notice 6 months prior to their marriage.

"...we will bring a law, wherein, Hindu marrying a Hindu, Hindu marrying a Muslim or Muslim marrying a Hindu will send a notice to the government, 6 months prior to their marriage. Getting married by running away from home. That can never be accepted. One will change his/her name to Hindu and get married to a Muslim-Hindu or vice versa. That won't work, " Sarma said the assembly. 

It is to be mentioned here that the new law will be part of state amendments of the Special Marriage Act 1954 which currently has a provision of issuing notice of one month, however, this new law will be applicable for inter-religious marriages only.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday called for a debate on the demographic changes concerning Hindus and Muslims in the state. 

He stated that such changes are occurring in parts of Lower Assam and could lead to an unprecedented human disaster. 

Sarma highlighted that the Hindu-Muslim issue is the most pressing matter in the state and needs to be debated and resolved. 

"The Hindu-Muslim issue is the most burning issue in the state today; we need to debate and resolve it," Sarma said in the assembly, responding to a resolution on demographic change in particular districts.