Ahmedabad: Gujarat is moving forward with an approach similar to the Uttarakhand UCC Act and has prepared a draft law for matters like marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. It aims to create one common set of rules across different religions. Under this, the pursuers of live-in relationships will have to register their alliance with the district registrar. A number of rules have been introduced to the new draft, which will be in place if received with the necessary approvals. The draft law is called the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC), 2026 Bill.
The Gujarat cabinet has already approved the draft bill, forwarding it to the assembly secretariat. There, the bill will be tabled in the ongoing session for discussion and approval. It should be noted that the provisions of this proposed law will not apply to Scheduled Tribes (STs), who have been given an exemption, as reported by The Times of India.
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While the bill allows people to continue their marriage ceremonies as per their religious customs, it mandates registration of marriages and divorces. If anyone fails to comply with that, they may face a penalty of up to Rs 10,000.
Live-In Relationship Rules
The bill introduces some strict rules for those in live-in relationships. First off, all the live-in couples will have to register their relationship with the district registrar and inform authorities if their relationship terminates. If a woman is abandoned by her partner in this relationship, she will have the right to claim maintenance.
The bill keeps the legal marriage age at 21 for men and 18 for women. It bans polygamy, and those found guilty can face up to seven years in prison. Marriages done through force or fraud will also lead to strict punishment, including jail and fines.
In a key move, the bill allows divorced individuals to remarry freely, including marrying their former spouse again without conditions. This is seen as addressing practices like halala.
For property matters, the bill clearly divides heirs into three categories if a person dies without a will. It aims to simplify inheritance and reduce disputes.
The government says the bill promotes equality, gender justice, and social reform, and will help bring unity and fairness in civil matters across the state.
