Assam Enacts Uniform Civil Code Legislation Amid Opposition

The Assam Assembly has approved the Uniform Civil Code Bill, which seeks to apply a unified legal structure to matters of marriage, divorce, and succession, irrespective of religious belief. Despite call for additional deliberation by the opposition, the Bill was swiftly passed by the ruling party.

With this decision, Assam joins Uttarakhand and Gujarat in adopting a Uniform Civil Code. The Bill proposes significant reforms, including prohibiting polygamy and mandating the registration of live-in relationships, although it excludes the Scheduled Tribes of Assam due to their longstanding customary laws.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the legislation as a major step for women's rights, emphasizing it as consistent with constitutional directives rather than partisan ideology. Opposition parties, however, criticized the Bill as a political maneuver, expressing concern over its potential impact on certain societal sectors and calling for broader consultation.

The legislation also proposes stringent penalties for non-compliance, such as multi-year imprisonment for polygamy and failure to register live-in relationships. Aimed at reinforcing legal rights, the Bill intends to ensure fairness in matters of property distribution and legal protection.

(With inputs from agencies.)