Guwahati: Assam reached a significant milestone on May 27 as the Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill through a voice vote. The development makes Assam the third state in India, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to adopt this type of legislation. While Goa has long utilized a common civil framework dating back to the Portuguese era, local officials describe the passage of this new bill as a historic event for the state.
Silchar BJP MLA Rajdeep Roy defended the legislation, emphasizing that the state's demographic makeup makes the code particularly important. He noted that Assam maintains a minority population of approximately 34 to 35 percent. Roy stated that the push for a common civil code has remained a core ideological position for his party and the Jan Sangh for several decades, appearing in their manifestos since 1967.
The passage of the bill occurred despite protests from opposition members, who unsuccessfully demanded that the legislation be sent to a select committee for a more extensive review. Roy dismissed accusations that the law targets any specific religion, asserting that the text contains no language directed against Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Christianity. He added that the bill will face further constitutional scrutiny as it moves forward.
The legislation now heads to the President for formal assent. Once that approval is secured, the state government will begin the process of implementing the new civil framework.
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