Overview
- The Assam Legislative Assembly, which passed the UCC bill on Wednesday, approved a single civil law to govern marriage, divorce, succession and live‑in relationships for non‑tribal residents.
- The law bans polygamy, mandates registration of marriages and live‑in relationships, and creates a uniform intestate succession regime that gives sons and daughters equal shares.
- Assam’s bill includes fines and possible imprisonment for certain registration breaches while the three state UCCs differ on enforcement with Uttarakhand taking a more moderate approach and Gujarat using stricter penalties.
- BJP leaders framed the move as advancing Article 44 of the Constitution and said the bill will be sent to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and then to President Droupadi Murmu for assent, with senior ministers urging other states to follow.
- All three state UCCs explicitly exempt Scheduled Tribes and preserve customary tribal practices, a design choice likely to shape legal challenges and the practical rollout of the laws.