Polygamy is being banned in Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has introduced a bill in the Assembly making polygamy a crime. The ‘Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025’ states that illegal polygamy can be punished with seven years in prison. The Congress, CPI(M) and other opposition parties staged a ‘walkout’ in the Assam Assembly in opposition to this bill.
It is learnt that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced the ‘Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill-2025’ in the Assembly on Tuesday with the permission of Speaker Biswajit Daimari. The bill will be applicable throughout the state except the areas included in the Sixth Schedule. According to Article 342 of the Constitution, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will not be covered under this bill.
What is this ‘Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill-2025’? This bill states that persons whose spouses are alive and have not been legally divorced will not be able to remarry. The new bill makes polygamy a criminal offence. If found guilty, one can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to seven years. If someone marries a new one by hiding their previous marriage, then the maximum jail term is 10 years. A hefty fine may also be imposed. All those involved in the entire marriage process, including the priest or priest, village head, parents or legal guardians, who encourage the marriage, will be brought under punishment.
The bill states that compensation will be given to women who are victims of polygamy. Those convicted of polygamy will not get any state government job. They will not get the benefits of any government scheme. They will not be able to contest any election. It has also been warned that if someone commits the same crime repeatedly, then the punishment prescribed for each crime will be doubled.
