Overview
- The Assam Legislative Assembly approved the Uniform Civil Code Bill by voice vote on Wednesday, May 27, making the state the third to enact UCC-style laws after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.
- The law sets a single civil framework for marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships, bans polygamy and requires compulsory registration of marriages and live-in partnerships.
- The Bill exempts all Scheduled Tribes in Assam from its scope, a choice the government says protects customary tribal laws while opponents say it undercuts the claim of uniformity.
- The legislation includes criminal penalties such as up to seven years in prison for bigamy or polygamy and fines or short jail terms for failure to register, raising concerns about enforcement and privacy from critics.
- Opponents demanded wider consultations and a select-committee review before passage, neighbouring tribal-majority states have said they will study Assam’s model, and legal challenges are expected once the Bill reaches the presidency.