Not consulted on Mizo marriage & property bill: MHIP

Aizawl: Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), an association of Mizo women, has rejected the Mizo Marriage and Inheritance of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026 passed by the Mizoram assembly on Monday, demanding that it be withdrawn, reviewed and amended again.

Introducing the bill, CM Lalduhoma had said under the amended Section 2, any Mizo girl marrying a non-Mizo “will no longer be a Mizo” and that her children and grandchildren would lose Scheduled Tribe status.


However, the amended Section 2 states: “This Act applies to all marriages where both the parties belong to Mizo tribe or where the male member to the marriage belongs to any Mizo tribe.”

The text does not mention that a Mizo woman marrying a non-Mizo will cease to be Mizo.

Section 2 of the 2014 principal Act states, “This Act applies to any person who belongs to any Mizo tribe. It also applies to marriages where male members of the parties belongs to any Mizo tribe.”

In a press statement issued on Friday, MHIP said the amendment bill is against the interests of Mizo women and should be reviewed immediately. “Though the MHIP is a part of the Mizo Customary Law Committee, we are neither consulted nor informed of the amendment of the Act,” the statement said.

Lalduhoma on Friday said the bill was drafted by a review committee comprising representatives of major church and civil society organisations, including MHIP. “This amendment was not brought forward by the state govt alone, and the recommendations were routed through the law department,” he said.

Leader of opposition Lalchhandama Ralte responded in the assembly, accusing the chief minister of trying to evade the council of ministers’ responsibility for the decision and demanded that Lalduhoma’s statement be expunged.

Lalduhoma’s remarks have triggered controversy and objections from women’s groups.