Assam Minister Arup Bora presented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Assam, 2026 Bill in the state Assembly. The bill aims to establish a single civil legal framework governing marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships for all state residents, except Scheduled Tribes. It seeks to replace religion-based personal laws with a common code to ensure gender justice and legal uniformity.
The proposed legislation mandates monogamy and sets the legal marriage age at 21 for men and 18 for women. It allows marriages to be conducted according to various customs and ceremonies, such as Vedic Bibah, Ahom Chaklong, Saptapadi, Nikah, Holy Union, and Anand Karaj, preserving cultural and religious diversity. Additionally, the bill requires marriages and divorces to be registered, with couples needing to submit a marriage memorandum within 60 days of the ceremony.
The UCC bill outlines uniform grounds for divorce, including cruelty, desertion, and mutual consent. It stipulates that children below five years of age will typically remain with the mother. In matters of succession, the law introduces a gender-equal inheritance structure for intestate succession, placing spouse, children, and parents in the same category of heirs.
The legislation also addresses live-in relationships by making their registration mandatory within one month. Children born from such relationships will be considered legitimate, and deserted partners can seek financial maintenance through the courts. The bill imposes strict penalties for violations, with bigamy, polygamy, and fraudulent marriages carrying imprisonment and fines.
