Assam is moving to make polygamy punishable for all religions. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement on Monday, saying that an offence would carry a punishment for at least 7 years.
But what does Indian law say about the practice of having two or more wives at the same time?
Polygamy laws in India
Though India has largely outlawed the practice, the country has complex civil laws. The Hindu Marriage Act bans polygamy for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Polygamy is also illegal under the Special Marriage Act that governs inter-community marriages.
But, the Muslim Personal Law allows Muslim men to to marry up to 4 women at the same time. But this supposed privilege is not extended to the women of the community.
Several tribal communities also continue the practice based on local customs.
According to the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey, 1.9% of Muslims men have more than one wife. It also turns out that 1.3% of Hindus continue the practice, despite the ban.
But, the highest occurrence of polygamous marriages -- 2.4% -- were found among tribal communities, especially in the Northeast.
And that brings us back to Assam. The new legislation would make the state one of the few in India with a dedicated legal framework criminalising polygamy across religions.
The bill will be introduced in the assembly on November 25, the first day of the winter session, as per the Chief Minister.
"If a person marries another woman without legally divorcing his wife, then there will be provision of seven years or more imprisonment irrespective of his religion," he told the beneficiary girls attending the programme.
The accused may say that his religion permits it, but the BJP government will never allow polygamy, he added. Sarma said, "We will protect the dignity of women in this state at any cost."
Last week, the CM had said the state government will introduce several bills in the upcoming assembly session on issues like 'love-jihad' and polygamy.
