Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Guwahati: Members of the ruling NDA in the Assam Assembly defended the newly introduced Uniform Civil Code Bill this week. Supporters argued the legislation aims to protect the rights of women and does not target any specific religious group or practice. The bill includes provisions to ban polygamy and requires the mandatory registration of live-in relationships.
BJP legislator Pijush Hazarika described the bill as a historic measure for justice and equality. He contended that allowing men to marry multiple times without spousal consent undermines women's rights, and he criticized opposition members for resisting the proposal. Meanwhile, AGP representative Prithiraj Rava expressed concerns regarding demographic shifts, suggesting that the bill would improve social stability and control population growth.
The legislation includes exemptions for Scheduled Tribes to ensure their customary laws remain protected. BPF legislator Rabiram Narzary supported this approach but requested further clarification on how the rules apply to divorced tribal women who marry non-tribal individuals.
Violations of the proposed law carry heavy penalties. Bigamy or polygamy could result in a prison sentence of up to seven years, while failure to register a live-in relationship may lead to three months in jail. Government members maintained that the bill fulfills their political promises and strengthens national unity.
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