GUWAHATI, May 25: The Assam government on Monday tabled a Bill on the Uniform Civil Code, seeking to ban polygamy and make registration of live-in relationships compulsory.
The Bill, however, said that it will not be applicable to any of the Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam. It proposed several punitive measures, including seven years imprisonment for bigamy or polygamy, and three months in jail for not registering a live-in relationship.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora tabled ‘The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill’ in the first assembly session of the third BJP-led NDA government, on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
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The opposition parties, including Congress, Raijor Dal and Trinamool Congress, opposed the move and demanded wider consultation with all stakeholders before its introduction.
The Assam UCC, a contentious and polarising issue that was part of BJP’s election manifesto, is likely to come up for discussion on Wednesday, the last day of the ongoing five-day session.
“The Bill aims to consolidate and simplify laws governing marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships,” Sarma said in its ‘Statement of Object and Reasons’.
For marriage, the Bill sets 21 years and 18 years as minimum age for men and women, respectively, and prohibits polygamy, he said.
“Importantly, it protects Assam’s cultural diversity by allowing marriages to be performed according to existing religious and customary rites,” Sarma said.
To safeguard legal rights, the Bill proposes to make marriage and divorce registration compulsory, which will be vital for securing maintenance, inheritance and other legal protection for spouses.
“For the first time, the Bill provides a legal framework for live-in relationships. By requiring registration, the law ensures that the rights of partners – and any children born from such unions – are formally recognised and protected,” the CM said.
He said that the UCC aims to modernise succession laws to ensure a fair and equal distribution of property.
“It introduces uniform rules for inheritance, ensuring that the transfer of assets is handled justly for all residents of the state,” Sarma stated.
In terms of succession, the Bill proposed to create a uniform, gender-equal order of preference for intestate inheritance among Class-1 heirs, which equitably includes the spouse, children, and parents of the deceased.
For testamentary succession, any adult of sound mind will be granted the legal right to execute a written and witnessed Will.
It also proposed to establish necessary administrative machinery, including the appointment of registrars, to implement the reforms.
“This ensures that the code is not just a policy, but a practical tool for social justice and equality in Assam,” Sarma said.
He said that the Constitution, under Article 44, directs the state to strive for a Uniform Civil Code for its citizens.
“This Bill seeks to implement this principle within Assam to ensure a common legal framework for all residents, regardless of their religion,” the chief minister said.
By creating a uniform system, the code ensures legal clarity and protects the fundamental rights of every individual, he said.
According to a note on the UCC Bill, shared by the Director of Information and Public Relations, the proposed law will repeal the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024, to streamline the state’s statutory architecture.
“However, an essential savings clause is included to ensure that any polygamous marriage solemnised prior to the enforcement of this UCC will be regularised and legally protected,” it said.
The Bill proposed a series of penal provisions for violations of the clauses related to exploitation, fraud and unlawful practices in personal relationships.
Under the proposed law, bigamy and polygamy shall invite imprisonment up to seven years under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Child marriage and marriage without valid consent shall attract imprisonment up to two years or fine or both as per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
Fraudulent or deceptive marriages through force, coercion or concealment shall be punishable with imprisonment up to seven years along with fine.
Violation of lawful divorce procedure and illegal dissolution of marriage shall invite imprisonment up to three years and fine, while compelling a divorced person to fulfil unlawful conditions before remarriage shall attract three years imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 1 lakh.
Marriage within prohibited relationships, unless protected by valid customs, shall be punishable with imprisonment up to six months and fine up to Rs 50,000.
Further, deliberate non-registration of marriage or divorce within 60 days shall attract a penalty of Rs 10,000. Submission of forged or fabricated documents during registration shall invite imprisonment up to three months or fine up to Rs 25,000 or both.
Similarly, failure to register a live-in relationship within one month shall attract imprisonment up to three months or fine up to Rs 10,000, while concealment of material facts or furnishing false information in such declarations shall invite imprisonment up to three months and fine up to Rs 25,000. (PTI)
