SC tells Mizo woman challenging customary law changes to move HC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday, August 24, asked a Mizo woman challenging amendments to the Mizo marriage and property inheritance law to approach the Gauhati High Court.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana told the counsel appearing for petitioner Meriam L Hrangchal that she is not required to come to Delhi when there is already a high court available in the region.

“Why don’t you approach the high court? That is exactly why the high courts were established. Do not burden this woman so that she has to travel to Delhi to pursue this case. File a petition before the high court on this issue,” the bench said.

The plea has challenged the constitutional validity of the amendments introduced through The Mizo Marriage and Inheritance of Property (Amendment) Act, 2026.

It alleged that the law discriminates against Mizo women who marry non-Mizo men and adversely affects the rights of their children.

The new legislation further codifies customary law and strengthens the principal Act of 2014, introducing changes relating to polygamy, inter-community marriage and women’s property rights.

While the Act introduces a landmark ban on polygamy and grants women rights to 50 per cent of matrimonial property, it has sparked intense debate over an interpretation of a clause that potentially strips Mizo women of their Mizo identity and Scheduled Tribe (ST) status if they marry non-Mizo men.