Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Aizawl: The Supreme Court ordered a petitioner to take a challenge against Mizoram's 2026 marriage and inheritance law amendments to the Gauhati High Court. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant led a three-judge bench, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, in pushing the case down to the lower court. The bench suggested that the jurisdictional court holds the capacity to weigh the merits of the case effectively.
Petitioner Meriam L Hrangchal filed Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1046/2026. She fears the local environment in the Aizawl Bench could hamper her case. The Supreme Court granted her liberty to seek a hearing before the principal bench of the Gauhati High Court, provided the Chief Justice signs off. The court noted the case "prima facie warrants preferential attention."
The legal challenge targets amendments to Sections 2, 3(m), 25, and 26(1) of the Mizo Marriage, Divorce and Inheritance of Property Act, 2014. The petitioner claims the law discriminates against Mizo women who marry men outside the community. According to the plea, Section 2 excludes these women from statutory protections, while the new Section 3(m) definition forces a patrilineal requirement for being considered Mizo.
The petition also highlights deep concerns over inheritance and property rights. The challenge argues that Section 25 unfairly caps a woman’s share in matrimonial assets. Furthermore, the petitioner objects to the removal of Section 26(1), a provision that previously shielded a woman’s personal property. The Supreme Court made no final ruling on the constitutional validity of these statutes, leaving the substantive fight for the Gauhati High Court to settle.
Comments