Supreme Court Refuses Challenge To Mizo Marriage, Divorce and Inheritance Law Amendments

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a petition filed before it challenging the amendments made to the Mizo Marriage, Divorce and Inheritance of Property Act, 2014.

A CJI Surya Kant led bench refused a plea by one Meriam L Hrangchal, who approached the court being aggrieved by an amendment which was carried out by the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.

"In our considered opinion, there is no necessity for the petitioner to approach this Court directly, as the grievance can be effectively redressed by the jurisdictional High Court," CJI Kant led bench ordered.

Court also addressed the petitioner's apprehension that the matter may not be heard at Aizawl Bench, owing to the charged atmosphere. The bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana observed that such concerns can be effectively addressed by requesting the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to list the matter before the Principal Bench at Gauhati.

"Further, the issue raised on behalf of the petitioner prima facie requires preferential attention. However, we do not express any opinion on merits of the case at this stage. The instant petition is, thus, disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to approach the Principal Bench of the Gauhati High Court, where her writ petition may be entertained in light of the observations made hereinabove," the bench ordered.

Notably, the petition alleged that the amendments discriminate against Mizo women who marry non-Mizo men, while continuing to protect Mizo men who marry outside the community.

The challenge before Supreme Court was made to amendments to Sections 2, 3(m), 25 and 26(1) of the Act. Among other things, the amendments alter the definition of “Mizo”, affect the Act's application to inter-community marriages, and modify women's rights relating to matrimonial property and personal property.

The petitioner argued that these changes violate Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution and undermine the rights of Mizo women and their children as the 2014 Act applied, in its original form, to “any person who belongs to any Mizo tribe” and also to “marriages where male members of the parties belongs to any Mizo tribe”.

As per the petitioner, the amendments reshape how law treats inter-community marriages, tribal identity, and property rights after divorce in ways that disadvantage women who marry outside the Mizo community.

Case Title: MERIAM L HRANGCHAL vs. STATE OF MIZORAM & ORS.

Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana

Hearing Date: August 24, 2026