Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet has approved a new set of rules that will make the registration of Muslim marriages a compulsory and formal government process across the state. The Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026 were cleared during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on September 24. The rules are intended to establish a uniform procedure for registering Muslim marriages through government-appointed marriage registrars.
Government Registrars to Handle Marriage Registration
Under the new system, Muslim couples will be able to register their marriages through designated government marriage registrars instead of the earlier Kazi-led mechanism. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government had previously decided that Kazis would no longer register Muslim marriages, but there was uncertainty about which authority would take over the responsibility. The newly approved rules address that gap by establishing a government registration mechanism. Sarma also said that if the number of applications becomes high, additional officials, including officers at the panchayat level, could be authorised to carry out registrations.
Rules Implement 2024 Marriage Law
The 2026 rules have been framed under the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024. The legislation received the Governor's assent in October 2024 and replaced the earlier legal framework governing Muslim marriage and divorce registration in Assam. The new rules essentially provide the administrative framework required to put the 2024 legislation into operation. The 2024 law made the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces with government authorities mandatory. It also moved away from the previous system in which licensed Muslim registrars, commonly known as Kazis, handled registrations.
Minimum Age Requirements Clearly Defined
One of the important provisions of the 2024 legislation concerns the legal age of marriage. Under the law, a woman must be at least 18 years old, while a man must be at least 21 years old at the time of marriage. The legislation does not permit registration of marriages that violate these age requirements. The Assam government has linked the legislation to efforts to prevent child marriage and strengthen the legal safeguards surrounding marriage registration. The earlier 1935 framework had been criticised by the state government because it could allow the registration of marriages involving people below the legally prescribed marriage age.
What Changes Under the New System?
The biggest administrative change is that marriage registration will now come under the state's formal registration system. Under the 2024 law, applicants are required to provide relevant details and documents relating to identity, age and residence. The legislation also includes provisions concerning consent and other legal conditions governing marriage. The law also provides a formal framework for registering divorces, making both marriage and divorce records part of the government registration process. According to reports, marriage registration is required within a specified period after the marriage, while separate provisions apply to divorce registration. The law also provides penalties for violations, including the use of forged documents.
Why Assam Introduced the New Framework
The Assam government has presented the legislation as a measure aimed at strengthening the legal registration of Muslim marriages, preventing child marriages and protecting the rights associated with marriage. The 2024 law's stated objectives include ensuring the minimum legal age for marriage, preventing marriages without the consent of the parties and providing a formal mechanism through which married individuals can establish their legal marital status. The government has also said that formal registration can help married women access rights and legal protections connected with marriage.
From 1935 Law to a Government Registration System
The latest rules mark another step in Assam's transition away from the Assam Muslim Marriage and Divorce Registration Act, 1935. Although the 1935 legislation was amended in 2010 to make registration compulsory, the registration mechanism remained connected to the earlier system involving Muslim registrars or Kazis. The 2024 legislation replaced that framework with a new government-controlled registration system. With the Cabinet's approval of the 2026 rules, the government has now provided a clearer administrative route for implementing the newer law.
Additional Registrars May Be Appointed
The government is also preparing for a possible increase in applications once the new system becomes operational. Chief Minister Sarma said that if registration requests rise significantly, the government could authorise more officials to act as marriage registrars. Panchayat-level officials may also be given registration powers where necessary, with the stated aim of making the process accessible and preventing delays. The move is expected to bring Muslim marriage registration under a standardised government procedure throughout Assam, replacing the previous Kazi-based registration mechanism with an official administrative system. The Cabinet's decision therefore represents the latest step in implementing Assam's 2024 legislation on compulsory registration of Muslim marriages and divorces.
