No Second Marriage Without Permission, Assam Govt Reminds Employees

Guwahati: The Assam government has reminded employees that they cannot marry a second time without its approval.

Even though bigamy is permitted under Employee’s Personal laws, the Himanta Biswa Sarma-headed state government passed an order on October 20 about a provision that has been part of the rulebook for Central and state employees for decades.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced in August that his government was prepared to enact a law to prevent polygamy in the state.

“It is hereby reiterated that as per the provisions of Rule 26 of The Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1965, (1) No Government servant who has a wife living shall contract another marriage without first obtaining the permission of the government, notwithstanding that such subsequent marriage is permissible under the personal law for the time being applicable to him. (2) No female Government servant shall marry any person who has a wife living without first obtaining the permission of the Government,” stated the order issued by Assam’s additional chief secretary Niraj Verma.

The order warned that violation of this rule could lead to imposition of heavy penalty including compulsory retirement, reported Hindustan Times.

According to senior lawyer Hafiz Rashid Choudhary, a provision requiring state government employees to submit an affidavit when they join the civil service has always been there in the rulebook.