Himanta Biswa Sarma: Bride and groom will have to declare religion before marriage under new Law

GUWAHATI: Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the State Government shall bring in an Act that will require the bride and groom to declare their religion and income in official documents a month prior to their wedding.

While talking to the media, Sarma said, "One shouldn't get married if there's no transparency between husband and wife. Disclosure is important: my religion, what I do for a living, what's my income. I am not saying that you should disclose not only your religion, you should also disclose your income and job".

He further stated that the law is not against ‘love jihad’. It would be inclusive of all religions and would empower our sisters by bringing transparency.

One will have to disclose not only religion but earning source. He said that the couple should provide complete family details, education, etc. “Many a times even in same religion marriage we have found that the girl later finds that the husband leads an illegal business.

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Further speaking on the importance of disclosure of details before marriage, Sarma said, "It will be mandatory for all marriages."

There will be a disclosure pro forma given to a wife who'll give it to her husband. It won't be only about religion but everything that a wife needs to know. It won't be in line with Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, he added.

This comes as Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel last month promulgated the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020, proposing a maximum punishment of 10 years and fine for "love jihad" related offences.

Besides Uttar Pradesh, the Madhya Pradesh government has proposed a maximum punishment of 10 years for so-called 'Love Jihad'-related offences, in its new ordinance. With this, the state government has doubled the jail term in its proposed Freedom of Religion Bill 2020. It had earlier proposed a five-year jail term.

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