Assam to table Polygamy Prohibition Bill on Nov 25, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam is about to make polygamy officially illegal—because apparently in 2025, we still need to legislate against marrying multiple people simultaneously. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's cabinet has approved the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, which will be tabled in the state assembly on November 25, introducing up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for offenders and establishing a compensation fund for victimized women. This landmark legislation represents a significant reform in personal law, though it notably excludes Scheduled Tribe communities and Sixth Schedule areas like BTAD, Dima Hasao, and Karbi Anglong, respecting existing customary tribal practices. The bill also proposes stringent penalties including up to ten years imprisonment for those concealing previous marriages and up to two years for abettors such as Kazis, priests, or guardians, while establishing financial support mechanisms to ensure women affected by polygamous marriages can rebuild their lives with dignity and security.
