Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the state cabinet has approved a bill to ban polygamy. The Bill prohibits any individual from marrying if they already have a living spouse, are not legally separated, or if a decree of divorce has not dissolved their earlier marriage. However, there may be some exceptions for the Sixth Schedule areas.

The Bill will be called ‘The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025’. Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting, Mr Sarma said, it will be tabled in the assembly on the 25th of this month for passage. He said the government will also create a new fund to compensate the women victims of polygamy so that they do not face hardship in continuing with their lives. Mr Sarma said that if an accused is convicted of polygamy, he may face rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years.