Assam tables UCC Bill banning polygamy, regulating live-ins

The Assam government introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the state assembly on Monday, proposing a ban on polygamy, uniform minimum ages for marriage, and mandatory registration of live-in relationships. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora tabled the Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The legislation is expected to be taken up for discussion and passage on May 27.

The Bill seeks to consolidate and simplify laws governing marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. It sets the minimum age of marriage at 21 years for men and 18 years for women and prohibits polygamy. For the first time, the Bill provides a legal framework for live-in relationships, requiring registration to ensure that the rights of partners and any children born from such unions are formally recognized and protected. The legislation also aims to modernize succession laws to ensure fair and equal distribution of property. It proposes establishing administrative machinery, including the appointment of registrars, to implement the reforms.

The Bill explicitly exempts Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam from its purview. Traditional...