AIZAWL, Feb 25: The Mizoram Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the Mizo Marriage and Inheritance of Property (Amendment) Act, introducing sweeping reforms to the state’s customary laws governing marriage, divorce and inheritance.

The legislation was introduced by Chief Minister Lalduhoma in his capacity as Minister for Law and Judicial Affairs. The amendment formally bans polygamy and bigamy, mandating the submission of a valid divorce certificate before entering into a subsequent marriage. Lalduhoma said the move brings the state law in line with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which criminalises such practices.

A key feature of the amendment is the strengthening of women’s property rights. Earlier, divorced or separated women were entitled only to the dowry they had brought into the marriage following “Sum Chhuah” — the return of the bride price. Under the revised law, women will now be eligible to claim up to 50 per cent of jointly acquired property and assets, a provision aimed at enhancing their financial security.

The amendment also provides that Mizo women who marry non-Mizos will forfeit their Mizo identity, and their children will not qualify for Scheduled Tribe status, thereby placing them outside the purview of the Act.

Additionally, “leprosy” has been removed as a ground for divorce. The Chief Minister stated that the disease is a misfortune rather than a fault and should not serve as a basis for marital dissolution.

The amended law will be applicable across Mizoram, except in the three Autonomous District Councils in the southern part of the state, which operate under separate customary laws. Lalduhoma described the reform as a transformative step that balances tradition with contemporary legal standards while ensuring greater protection for women.