Assam cabinet givesnod to ban polygamy

The Assam cabinet has approved a Bill to prohibit polygamy in the state, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Sunday after a Cabinet meeting.
Sarma said the proposed law will make polygamy a punishable offence, carrying a sentence of up to seven years of imprisonment, along with a provision for compensation to the victim woman. However, Sarma clarified that the Bill will not apply to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and will also not be immediately applicable in the six Scheduled Areas of Assam.
“It will apply to everybody except tribals,” Sarma stated. He also mentioned that certain exemptions will apply in cases involving minority Muslim residents in Scheduled Areas before 2005, who will remain outside the purview of the law. The bill will be introduced in Assam Assembly session on November 25 for passage.