Guwahati: The Assam government has proposed a bill that requires Muslim marriages and divorces to be registered through government sub-registrars instead of Qazis, sparking concerns among the Muslim community.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, introduced by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan, was recently passed by the state cabinet. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the new bill removes the authority of Qazis to register Muslim marriages, transferring these duties to state officials.

The legislation has been criticized as reflecting the central government’s push for a Uniform Civil Code, which seeks to unify personal laws across India’s diverse religious demographics. The move has been met with resistance from Muslim groups who view it as an encroachment on their religious freedoms and practices.

The broader implications of the bill resonate with ongoing debates about the Modi government’s policies toward religious minorities, particularly Muslims, who fear that such changes threaten their cultural and religious autonomy.