Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Bill 2024 Receives Presidential Assent

The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Bill 2024 received the presidential assent today.

The Bill is the work of a committee constituted by the Government of Uttarakhand headed by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, former judge, Supreme Court of India.

A significant alteration introduced by the Act is the compulsory registration of live-in relationships, marking a departure from existing Indian law. Individuals in such relationships, provided they are residents of Uttarakhand, must now register within one month of commencement. Failure to comply may result in imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Two days following approval by the State Cabinet, the aforementioned Bill was introduced in the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 6 and swiftly passed the next day, February 7. Subsequently, on February 28, the Bill received approval from the State Lieutenant Governor and was set aside for the President's assent.

Among the notable provisions of the law are obligatory registration of live-in relationships, stipulations for contractual marriages, prohibition of halala, iddat, and polygamy, and equal inheritance rights for both genders. This legislation extends not only to Uttarakhand but also to its residents residing beyond its borders, excluding application to Scheduled Tribes.

Source: Live Law