The Assam Legislative Assembly today passed the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, marking a major shift in the state’s marriage laws and opening the door for wider reforms that the government says will follow the model of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The bill makes polygamy a criminal offence and lays out strict punishment for anyone entering into a second marriage while the first one remains legally valid.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while presenting the bill in the House, said that the state government is taking its “first important step” towards bringing a Uniform Civil Code in Assam. He stated that if the Bharatiya Janata Party returns to power in next year’s assembly election, the full UCC will be introduced and passed in the very first session. Sarma also stressed that women’s rights “will not be compromised” and that the state has an “unshakeable resolve” to ensure justice and dignity for women.
Under the new bill, a person who marries again while already being in a valid marriage can face up to seven years in prison. Someone who hides an existing marriage and then marries again can be punished with up to ten years in jail and a fine. The bill also proposes compensation for victim women, noting that many suffer severe hardship when trapped in polygamous relationships. A repeat offender will face double the punishment for every subsequent violation. 
The bill includes penalties for individuals who knowingly help or enable polygamous marriages. A village head, qazi, parent or guardian who conceals information or participates in such a marriage may face up to two years in jail and a fine of up to one lakh rupees. Anyone who solemnises a marriage in violation of the law may face the same jail term or a fine of up to Rs 1.5 lakh. However, the legislation does not apply to Scheduled Tribes or areas under the Sixth Schedule, which enjoy constitutional autonomy.
Explaining the broader aim, the Chief Minister said that the UCC addresses issues such as preventing underage marriage, banning polygamy, inheritance rules, and the registration of live-in relationships, while leaving traditional religious practices untouched. He added that the new bill reflects Assam’s commitment to strengthening ‘Nari Shakti’ and ensuring greater legal protection for women.
