The Assam assembly has tabled a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill that proposes a statutory framework governing live-in relationships in the state. The bill makes registration of live-in relationships compulsory, ensuring the rights of partners and any children born from such unions are formally recognised and protected.
The proposed legislation also creates an administrative machinery, including the appointment of registrars, to handle such registrations alongside those for marriages and divorces. However, Scheduled Tribes are exempted from the bill's provisions for uniform personal laws entirely.
The bill aims to protect women and children by providing a legal safety net in cases of desertion in a live-in relationship and ensure a uniform inheritance system. The granular details of the bill, such as registration timelines and penalties for non-compliance, are yet to be made public.
The opposition parties have opposed the move, demanding wider consultation with stakeholders before its introduction. The bill is expected to be debated on May 27.
