Aizawl, February 25, 2026: The Mizoram Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed an amendment to the Mizo Marriage, Divorce and Inheritance of Property Act, 2014, introducing significant changes to customary laws governing marriage and inheritance.
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| Women in traditional Mizo attire participate in a cultural event in Mizoram, showcasing vibrant heritage and community spirit. (File Photo) |
A key provision of the amended law states that in cases where a Mizo woman marries a non-Mizo, the Act will not apply. Consequently, her children will not be eligible to claim Scheduled Tribe (ST) status under this law, nor will they fall under its inheritance provisions.
The Bill was introduced by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who also holds the Law and Judicial Affairs portfolio. He said the changes were aimed at clarifying the scope of the Act and addressing evolving social realities.
Under the revised Section 2, the Act will apply only to marriages where both parties belong to a Mizo tribe or where the male partner belongs to a Mizo tribe. This marks a departure from the earlier law, which applied to Mizo men and women even if they married outside the community.
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Apart from redefining applicability, the amendment formally bans polygamy and bigamy and strengthens women’s inheritance rights. Women will now be entitled to claim up to 50% of jointly acquired matrimonial property following divorce or separation after the customary ‘Sum Chhuah’.
The amended legislation, to be known as the Mizo Marriage and Inheritance of Property (Amendment) Act, will extend across Mizoram except in areas under the three Autonomous District Councils in southern Mizoram.
The unanimous passage of the Bill marks a significant shift in the evolution of customary marriage and inheritance laws in the state.
