📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Saumya.purkayastha
Politics
Assam Budget Bans Polygamy from Welfare and Govt Jobs
✍️ Northeast Today
🗓 10 Jul 2026, 11:16 PM
👁 3
Assam’s 2024‑25 budget now bars individuals practicing polygamy from receiving welfare benefits and may lead to their dismissal from government service.
Assam’s latest budget, presented for the 2024‑25 fiscal year, introduces a new clause that will deny welfare benefits to individuals who practice polygamy. The policy also states that such individuals may be dismissed from government employment.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the enforcement of the Hindu Marriage Act, which prohibits polygamy. By linking welfare eligibility to marital status, the state aims to strengthen compliance with national laws.
Officials say the measure is part of a broader effort to curb social practices that conflict with constitutional provisions. The budget also outlines penalties for violations, including termination of public service positions.
The policy has sparked debate among civil society groups, who argue that it may disproportionately affect certain communities. However, the government maintains that it is a necessary step to uphold the rule of law.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the enforcement of the Hindu Marriage Act, which prohibits polygamy. By linking welfare eligibility to marital status, the state aims to strengthen compliance with national laws.
Officials say the measure is part of a broader effort to curb social practices that conflict with constitutional provisions. The budget also outlines penalties for violations, including termination of public service positions.
The policy has sparked debate among civil society groups, who argue that it may disproportionately affect certain communities. However, the government maintains that it is a necessary step to uphold the rule of law.