Assam Government Gained Strong Public Support For Its Proposed Ban On Polygamy

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• Sep 2, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The Assam state government has garnered significant public support for its proposed law to ban polygamy, with a...

Digital Desk: The Assam state government has garnered significant public support for its proposed law to ban polygamy, with a whopping 149 suggestions received in response to a public notice seeking feedback on the matter. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the substantial response and announced the next steps in the legislative process.

Out of the 149 suggestions submitted to the government, a staggering 146 are in favor of the bill, signaling robust public backing for the proposed polygamy ban. However, a minority of three organizations have expressed their opposition to the bill, highlighting a diversity of perspectives on the issue.

Taking to his Twitter handle, CM Sarma expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming response and stated, "We have received a total of 149 suggestions in response to our public notice. Out of these, 146 suggestions are in favor of the bill, indicating strong public support. However, 3 organizations have expressed their opposition to the bill. We will now proceed to the next stage of the process, which is to complete the final drafting of the bill in next 45 days." This announcement suggests that the Assam government is determined to move forward with the legislation, given the strong public support.

The process to seek public opinion on the proposed law began on August 21, when the Assam government invited suggestions and opinions from all stakeholders regarding the ban on polygamy in the state. The government's decision to gather input from the public underscores its commitment to inclusivity and democratic decision-making.

To further validate the legislative competence of the Assam Assembly to enact a law prohibiting polygamy, the government established an Expert Committee. The committee, chaired by Justice (Retd.) Smt. Rumi Kumari Phukan, was tasked with conducting a comprehensive study on the matter.

The Expert Committee, which includes esteemed members such as Shri Devajit Saikia, Advocate General of Assam, Shri Nalin Kohli, Senior Additional Advocate General of Assam, and Shri Nekibur Zaman, Senior Advocate of Gauhati High Court, submitted its report to Chief Minister Sarma. The committee's findings recommended that the State Legislature is competent to enact a law to ban polygamy, adding a legal basis to the proposed legislation.

The significant public support for the polygamy ban in Assam, coupled with the Expert Committee's validation of legislative competence, suggests that the state is moving closer to adopting this crucial legal reform. As the government proceeds with the drafting process, it remains to be seen how the legislation will evolve to address the concerns of all stakeholders while maintaining its commitment to the welfare and rights of the people of Assam.