Mizoram Assembly Approves Major Changes to Marriage and Inheritance Laws

Mizoram Legislative Assembly Passes Key Amendment

Aizawl, Feb 26: In a landmark decision with significant social ramifications, the Mizoram Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved the Mizo Marriage and Inheritance of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which modifies the existing customary laws regarding marriage and inheritance in the state.

This amendment specifies that Mizo women who marry individuals from outside the Mizo community, along with their descendants, will no longer be subject to Mizo Customary Law, particularly concerning property inheritance.

The Chief Minister, Lalduhoma, who also oversees the Law and Judicial portfolio, introduced the Bill in the Assembly.

While presenting the amendment, he noted that various sections of the original Act from 2014 needed updates to reflect changing social dynamics and feedback from multiple organizations.

He highlighted that the current Section 2 encompasses all marriages involving Mizo men and women.

However, the revised provision will restrict the Act's applicability to marriages where both partners are from a Mizo tribe or where the male partner is Mizo.

Clarifying the amendment's purpose, Lalduhoma stated that Mizo women marrying non-Mizos would no longer be governed by the Mizo Marriage and Inheritance of Property Act or Mizo Customary Law.

Additionally, these women, along with their children and grandchildren, will not be recognized as Mizos under customary law and will not qualify for Scheduled Tribe status.

The Chief Minister mentioned that the amendment was crafted following extensive discussions with key civil society organizations and statutory bodies, including the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl, Mizoram State Commission for Women, Young Mizo Association, Mizoram Upa Pawl, and Mizoram Law Commission.

A representative from the YMA central committee remarked that the amendment to Section 2 was proposed in response to the increasing trend of Mizo women marrying outside their community.

He suggested that the stipulation that these women and their descendants would lose their recognition as Mizos and STs could deter such marriages and help protect the Mizo community from potential social assimilation.

The approval of this Bill signifies a crucial shift in the state's legal framework concerning personal law and is anticipated to spark discussions in social, legal, and constitutional contexts in the near future.