Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday (November 25) tabled a bill in the Assembly to ban polygamy.
CM Sarma tabled the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, after taking permission from the Speaker, Biswajit Daimary.
It was introduced in the absence of opposition Congress, CPI(M) and Raijor Dal MLAs, who staged a walkout after a discussion on the death of singer Zubeen Garg.
Polygamy means a person having more than one spouse (wife or husband) at the same time.
The bill was tabled on the first day of the Winter Session, and it will be taken up for discussion and passage on a later date.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sarma said that the practice of polygamy in the state would attract a minimum punishment of seven years’ imprisonment, irrespective of the offender’s religion.
“If a person marries another woman without legally divorcing his wife, there will be a provision for imprisonment of seven years or more. Religious justification won’t do,” the CM had said.
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He had further said that the BJP-led government in Assam will introduce a bill to prohibit the practice, even if permitted under religious laws.
“The BJP government won’t allow polygamy. We will protect the dignity of women in this state at any cost,” Sarma had said.
