The Assam government plans to introduce a new law in April 2025 requiring couples to give six months’ notice before entering into an interfaith marriage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced during the ongoing Assembly session.
Sarma pointed that the law aims to uphold the dignity of marriage, a legally recognised institution that he believes is being undermined by couples eloping without prior notice or formalities.
“Marriage is losing its respect due to people running away and marrying without proper process,” Sarma told the Assembly.
He highlighted concerns over people meeting on social media, changing their identities, and hastily falling in love, stating that this trend poses a threat to the sanctity of marriage.
“Instant marriages are already restricted under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which requires a one-month notice period. We will extend this period to six months for inter-religious marriages,” Sarma said.
While the Chief Minister refrained from using the term “love jihad” explicitly, he did acknowledge that the phenomenon of people altering their names to deceive potential spouses is a key issue. Sarma expressed the belief that such practices compromise the foundation of a prosperous family life.
The proposed law will be integrated into state amendments to the Special Marriage Act of 1954, which currently mandates a one-month notice for all marriages. However, the extended six-month notice requirement will specifically target interfaith marriages, Sarma explained.
“This law will ensure that couples, whether Hindu marrying a Hindu, Hindu marrying a Muslim, or Muslim marrying a Muslim, must notify the government six months before their marriage,” Sarma said.
He argued that marriages conducted in haste, or by misrepresenting identities, cannot be considered part of a dignified marital institution.
Sarma’s remarks sparked a mixed response from Assembly members, with some expressing concern over the potential impact on personal freedoms and the right to privacy. Critics argue that the extended notice period may deter couples from marrying due to bureaucratic hurdles and social stigma.
Despite this, Sarma maintained that the new measure is essential to safeguard the integrity of marriages and prevent deception. “Marriages should occur in a systematic, institutional manner. The way some marriages are happening today cannot be the basis for a strong family. For a prosperous family, there is a certain decorum that must be respected,” he said.
The Chief Minister also pointed to demographic shifts in the state, particularly in parts of Lower Assam, where he claimed changes in the Hindu-Muslim population ratio could lead to a human disaster. He called for a debate on this issue, urging the Assembly to address the growing concern.
“The Hindu-Muslim issue is the most pressing matter in the state today; we need to debate and resolve it,” Sarma stated, responding to a resolution on demographic changes in certain districts.
Follow us
