UCC passed in Gujarat Assembly

Gujarat became the second Indian state, after Uttarakhand to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The bill was passed with a thumping majority in the Assembly.

The bill aims at providing equality and justice to all irrespective of their cast and religion.

Under this bill registration of marriages, registration of live in relationship are made mandatory. Equal rules for divorce, inheritance, rights for daughters and sons are there in this bill. This bill will be implemented strictly and penalties will be imposed if any of the clause gets violated.

“The bill has been introduced in the light of Supreme Court judgements,” said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. “A common perspective has been taken after studying laws in other countries,” Patel added.

Newly married couples have to register their marriages within 60 days. This is one of the provisions in the bill. If a couple fails to do that then a penalty of ₹10000 will be imposed. Forced, coerced, fraudulent marriages will invite a penalty of 7 years of rigorous imprisonment. Same applies for multiple marriages.

Legal recognition, protection of women and children, fraudulent marriages can be combated by this registration. In divorce cases court approval is necessary and without it those divorce cases will be termed as invalid. 3 years of imprisonment will be the punishment for those invalid divorce cases. In these invalid divorce cases the women can enter into a remarriage without any condition.

Failure to register a live-in relationship will invite a penalty of ₹10000 or 3 months of imprisonment. Parents will be informed if the involved individuals are between 18-21 years. If a married person enters into live-in relationship strict punishments are waiting for them.

As soon as the bill is passed the Chief minister congratulated the Gujarat citizens on his X (formerly Twitter) account.