The Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has officially approved the ‘Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026’. The new regulations establish a uniform, mandatory procedural framework for registering Muslim marriages across the state through government-appointed registrars.
Key Highlights of the New Rules
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Shift to Government Registrars: Muslim marriages will now be officially registered by state-appointed registrars rather than traditional ‘kazis’ (licensed Muslim registrars). CM Sarma stated that additional officers will be appointed gradually if application volumes rise to prevent public inconvenience.
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Replacing Colonial-Era Framework: The rules enforce the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024, completely replacing the legacy 1935 legislation which originally provided for voluntary registration.
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Strict Minimum Age Requirements: Aligning with the 2024 Act, the framework explicitly bars child marriages by strictly mandating a legal minimum age of 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
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Formal State Process & Verification: Applications under the new rules require mandatory proof of identity, age, and residence, along with formal couple declarations. The process also includes a public notice period and a 30-day window for objections before final registration.
Note: This legislative shift moves the entire Muslim marriage registration process entirely into the state’s formal administrative system, checking for legal age, free consent, and prohibited relationships.
