Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Guwahati: The Assam Assembly officially passed the Uniform Civil Code, 2026 Bill on May 27, marking the state as the third in India to adopt such legislation after Uttarakhand and Gujarat. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the move as a historic achievement that fulfills a key election manifesto pledge during the first session of the newly constituted Assembly.
The legislation seeks to establish a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships across all religions. It introduces significant changes, including a total ban on polygamy and mandatory registration for live-in relationships. Violations carry strict penalties, with up to seven years of imprisonment for bigamy or polygamy and three months for failing to register a live-in relationship.
During the debate, Sarma defended the bill by citing Article 44 of the Constitution, rejecting claims that the policy stems from specific party ideologies. He noted that tribal communities are exempt from the law because their existing customary practices already prioritize gender equality and discourage the practices targeted by the new regulations.
Sarma also used the platform to criticize the Congress party, highlighting that the group originally supported a uniform code as early as 1925. He argued that the party has since abandoned its secular roots to cater to a single community, pointing to the composition of its current legislative members as evidence of this shift.
The Bill was passed via a voice vote despite protests from opposition members, who had requested that the legislation be referred to a select committee. The measure will now move to the President of India for final assent, a process expected to take between three and six months before the state can formally notify the necessary rules for implementation.
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