Government employees in Assam who remarry without first obtaining a legal divorce are about to lose a chunk of their paycheck. Twenty percent of such an employee's salary will now be transferred directly into the bank account of his first wife. The announcement was made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Private sector could be next
Sarma indicated that the state is not planning to stop at government employees. His administration is considering bringing private sector workers under the same rule as well, meaning the salary deduction could eventually extend beyond public sector jobs.
Polygamy already banned under UCC
The Assam government had already banned multiple marriages through the Uniform Civil Code. This fresh decision to deduct 20 percent of salary builds on that existing policy. This is not the first time the Himanta-led government has taken a decision aimed at social welfare.
A similar crackdown over neglected parents
Earlier, the state government had taken action against employees who neglected their parents, deducting 10 to 15 percent of their salary and depositing it directly into their parents' accounts. The fear of that deduction reportedly pushed many employees to start taking better care of their elderly parents.
What the government expects
The Himanta government is now hoping that this new salary deduction rule will lead to a drop in cases of polygamy across the state.
























