Assam Passes UCC Bill Amid Controversy
Assam has become the first northeastern state in India to pass an UCC Bill focusing on polygamy bans and live-in registrations, causing controversy among opposition parties.
Highlights
- •Assam becomes the first northeast state to implement UCC
- •Bans polygamy and mandates marriage/live-in relationship registration
- •Penalties for non-compliance proposed: Rs 10,000 fine or imprisonment
- •Scheduled Tribes exempt from certain provisions
In a significant development for Assam, the state assembly has passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, on Wednesday. This move by the BJP-led government marks Assam as the first northeastern state to implement such legislation and follows in the footsteps of Gujarat and Uttarakhand, which had done so earlier.
The UCC aims to bring a unified civil legal framework for all residents, covering key aspects like marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. Among its critical provisions is a ban on polygamy, making it mandatory that marriages and live-in relationships be registered within strict timelines—60 days for marriages and 30 days for live-in relationships.
The legislation is part of the BJP's promises ahead of the upcoming Assam assembly elections and was approved by the state Cabinet during its initial meeting this month. Non-compliance with the new rules will attract penalties, including fines or imprisonment in certain cases, although provisions exist to exempt Scheduled Tribes under specific conditions.
Key Provisions
The bill includes several noteworthy measures:
- A ban on polygamy and mandatory registration of marriages within 60 days.
- Limited implementation, with Scheduled Tribes exempt from certain aspects of the law.
- Penalties for non-compliance: fines up to Rs 10,000 or imprisonment for bigamy/polygamy.
While the ruling party defended the bill's necessity and constitutional validity during a day-long debate, opposition parties vehemently opposed sending it to a select committee. Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected their demands, leading to slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Shree Ram' from supportive members before the bill was passed.
