In a landmark decision, the Assam Cabinet has approved a new bill seeking to ban polygamy across the state. The bill, titled “The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025”, is scheduled to be tabled in the state assembly on November 25, 2025. The move marks a major step towards promoting gender equality and uniform civil practices.

The Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has cleared the Assam Polygamy Prohibition Bill, which aims to outlaw the practice of one person having multiple spouses simultaneously. The proposed law will now be introduced in the state assembly for approval.

The proposed law will make polygamy a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years. It is designed to apply to all citizens in the state except for autonomous tribal regions governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which are exempted due to existing constitutional safeguards for their customary practices.

The ban is part of the state government’s push for other social reforms, such as the crackdown on child marriage and the proposed law against “love jihad”, reflecting a desire to streamline societal norms.

Bill seeks to provide compensation to victimised women

Chief Minister Sarma said the decision was taken after careful legal examination and widespread public consultation. The government had earlier formed an expert committee to ensure the bill aligns with the Constitution and personal laws.

He further announced that the state government will create a fund to compensate victims of polygamy. “The government will provide financial assistance in necessary cases to ensure that no woman faces hardship,” a news agency quoted him as saying.

“Under this bill, polygamy is prohibited in respect of a person who shall not marry if he has a living spouse or is not legally separated from the other spouse by following due procedure of law or is a party to a marriage that is not yet dissolved or annulled by a decree of divorce. The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, further seeks to provide compensation to victimised women as they suffer immense pain and hardship due to polygamous marriages,” Sarma told reporters on Sunday.

Why Polygamy is being banned in Assam?

Chief Minister Sarma has spearheaded the move to ban polygamy in Assam primarily to protect the rights and dignity of women, ensure social justice, and end the emotional and financial hardships faced by women in polygamous relationships.

Sarma has repeatedly emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting women and has called the practice a “social evil” that must end to uphold their dignity. The legislation is part of a series of social reform measures aimed at creating a more just and equitable society where women are not subject to neglect or lack of legal recourse due to a spouse entering into multiple marriages.

Polygamy often leads to significant economic and social difficulties for women, including neglect. The proposed Bill includes provisions for a compensation fund to support victimized women and prevent them from facing hardship in continuing with their lives.

What will be the punishment for polygamy offenders in Assam?

Individuals found guilty of practicing polygamy could face rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years. Those who conceal facts about a previous marriage could be jailed for up to ten years. Kazis, priests, or guardians who facilitate such marriages could face imprisonment of up to two years. The offense will be cognizable and non-bailable, allowing for arrest without a warrant. Repeat offenders will be subject to double penalties.

Who all can practice polygamy in Assam?

However, the bill includes certain exemptions. The draft legislation excludes Scheduled Tribe communities and will not immediately apply to areas under the Bodoland Territorial Council, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, and the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, which come under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The Sixth Schedule protects land and limited autonomy to citizens in designated tribal-dominated regions. These councils collectively cover eight out of Assam’s thirty-five districts.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that Muslims residing in Sixth Schedule areas before 2005 will also be exempted from the law.

How women’s rights groups are reacting?

While several women’s rights groups have welcomed the decision, calling it a bold step toward women’s empowerment, some community leaders have urged the government to ensure that the law is implemented with sensitivity and fairness.

The bill is expected to be tabled in the upcoming session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. All eyes will now be on how this historic proposal shapes the future of personal laws in the state. The government maintains that the bill is not aimed at any particular community but is part of its larger push for a Uniform Civil Code.

If the bill is approved by the Assembly, Assam will join Uttarakhand in banning polygamy. Uttarakhand was the first state to ban polygamy last year.

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