The Assam Assembly has decided to end a British-era rule that allowed a break on Fridays for Muslim legislators to offer Namaz (prayers). From now on, there will be no such break for Muslim MLAs.
BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan, representing the Sarupathar Assembly segment, explained, “Since British times, a break was given in the Assam Assembly every Friday for offering Namaz. There was a two-hour break from 12 PM to 2 PM for Muslim legislators. However, this rule has been changed, and there will be no break from now on.”
Phukan further mentioned that the decision was made in a meeting conducted by the Speaker of the Assam Assembly, Biswajit Daimary, and was unanimously supported by all legislators. “Everyone has voiced their support for this decision. It was noted that the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and Assemblies in other states do not have provisions for a Namaz break, prompting the Speaker to end this British-era rule,” Phukan added.
Until now, the Assembly used to start at 9:30 AM from Monday to Thursday, and on Fridays, it began at 9:00 AM to accommodate the two-hour Namaz break. Following the new decision, the Assembly will start at 9:30 AM every day.
In addition to ending the Namaz break, the Assam Assembly also passed the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024, which mandates the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces with the government. This legislation replaces the outdated Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935.
The new Bill aims to safeguard the rights of Muslim women and men and to eliminate child marriages in the state. Speaking during the discussion on the Bill, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “The highest Muslim population states in India, Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir, already have laws to register Muslim marriages. In Kerala, this Act must have been introduced either by the Congress or the Left government, as the BJP has never been in power there.”
CM Sarma said the Muslim Marriage Registration Act would provide safety and security to Muslim women.
