Assam Polygamy Ban: The Himata Biswa Sarma-led Assam Government on Friday proposed stricter action against people practising polygamy, including dismissal of government employees and denial of benefits under state welfare schemes.
Presenting the 2026-27 state Budget on Friday, Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said the measures are aimed at promoting women’s empowerment, gender justice and responsible citizenship.
“Speaker Sir, in order to promote women’s empowerment and gender justice, any male practising polygamy shall not be eligible to avail benefits under any government welfare scheme,” Baruah said as quoted by news agency PTI.
Under the proposal, any male found practising polygamy will not be eligible to receive benefits under government
welfare schemes. The government has also proposed amending the Assam Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964, to make government employees found guilty of practising polygamy liable for dismissal from service, in accordance with the law.
The Budget also proposes that any person convicted of an offence under criminal law will not be eligible to avail benefits under notified state welfare schemes.
“To promote integrity and responsible citizenship, I propose that any person convicted of an offence under any criminal law shall not be eligible to avail benefits under notified government welfare schemes,” Baruah ADDED.
Baruah said the government will resume its welfare schemes from August after the election-related break. More than Rs 6,000 crore has been allocated for various beneficiary-oriented schemes, which will be delivered through a unified digital platform using Aadhaar-based authentication.
“The august House will appreciate the introduction of unprecedented basket of welfare schemes by our government covering various levels of beneficiaries. I propose to allocate over Rs 6,000 crore under different grants for these welfare schemes,” he added.
Assam Polygamy Ban
The proposals come a year after the Assam Assembly passed the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, which seeks to ban polygamous marriages in the state. The law provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine for anyone found guilty of entering into or concealing a second marriage while the first marriage remains legally valid.
The proposed law applies across Assam, except in Sixth Schedule areas and to members of Scheduled Tribes covered under constitutional provisions.
The Assam government in May this year introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the state assembly, seeking to prohibit polygamy, make registration of live-in relationships compulsory and bring in uniform rules governing marriage, divorce and succession.
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons attached to the Bill, as reported by news agency PTI, the legislation seeks to “consolidate and simplify laws governing marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships” while ensuring a common legal framework for all residents of the state.
The proposed law has also set the minimum age of marriage at 21 years for men and 18 years for women and prohibits polygamy. It also seeks to make registration of marriages and divorces compulsory in order to secure maintenance, inheritance and other legal protections for spouses.
(With inputs from agencies)
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