Assam Assembly Passes Anti-polygamy Bill
The Bill said that polygamy entails entering a marriage if someone already has a living spouse, if not legally separated from another spouse, or if in a marriage not yet dissolved or annulled by decree of divorce and is pending appeal
Guwahati: The Assam assembly on Thursday passed a bill to ban polygamy, making it an offence which may lead to a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment, barring some exceptions. It kept people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category and areas under the Sixth Schedule out of the purview of the legislation.
The Bill also has a provision for compensation to the victim woman.
The Bill said that polygamy entails entering a marriage if someone already has a living spouse, if not legally separated from another spouse, or if in a marriage not yet dissolved or annulled by decree of divorce and is pending appeal.
While presenting the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, Assam 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”.
“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 chief minister’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, the AIUDF and the CPI(M) went ahead with their modification suggestions, which were defeated by voice vote.
The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill 2025 was tabled on the first day of the winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly.
It is significant that Assam’s tribal population will be exempt from coming under the ambit of the Bill. It will not apply to areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution — the Bodoland Territorial Region and the hill districts of Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong — and to people from the Scheduled Tribes.
According to the Bill, a person convicted under it is ineligible for public employment funded or aided by the government of Assam, for any Assam government schemes, and for contesting in any elections in Assam.
