Murmu Assents to Gujarat UCC Act, Start Date Still Pending

President Droupadi Murmu assented on September 17 to Gujarat’s Uniform Civil Code Act, but the state government’s Gazette notification says it will take effect only on a date set later by a separate state notification. The legislation, passed by the Gujarat Assembly on March 24, establishes common rules for marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships, while excluding specified tribal communities and groups with constitutionally protected customary rights. The Act was published in an extraordinary Gujarat Government Gazette dated October 1. Its commencement clause says the state government must appoint the start date through a Gazette notification. A BJP leader, Anil Patel, said the Act had come into effect, but the available accounts do not establish that a commencement date has been notified. The Gazette provision therefore leaves the Act’s operative status unclear pending confirmation of a further state notification. The legislation applies across Gujarat and, according to its reported terms, also covers Gujarat residents living outside the state.