In a historic decision, the Assam Assembly on Friday voted to do away with the very long-standing practice dating back to the British era of granting a break for Friday Namaz prayers.
The new rule is not going to provide a Namaz break, as followed earlier in accordance with Muslim legislators. This practice, initiated during the British colonial period, as per BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan from the Sarupathar Assembly constituency, used to have a two-hour recess from 12 P.M. to 2 P.M. for the Muslim MLAs for performing the Friday 'namaz'. However, this would no more be followed.
Phukan said the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Speaker Biswajit Daimary and was unanimously agreed to by the other legislators. He also pointed out that no such provisions exist in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, or assemblies of other states, which influenced the decision to do away with the break.
So far, the Assam Assembly was holding sessions starting at 9.30 A.M. from Monday to Thursday and at 9 A.M. on Fridays to accommodate the Namaz break. Henceforth the sessions will begin every day at 9.30 A.M.
Besides, the Assam Assembly has abrogated another pre-Independence regulation in recent times. It had passed the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill, 2024 on Thursday. The new law seeks to safeguard the rights of both male and female Muslims and counter child marriages that prevails over the archaic Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935.
While discussing the bill, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned that even states with big Muslim populations, like Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir, have marriage registration law. He asserted that this new Act would definitely provide greater safety and security to the Muslim women, addressing long-standing issues within the community.
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