Registration for living together partners, jail for giving false information; Uniform Civil Code Bill in Uttarakhand Assembly

DEHRADUN: Uniform Civil Code Bill has been introduced in the Uttarakhand Assembly. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami introduced the bill in a special session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country to enact a Uniform Civil Code if the bill is passed.

With the enactment of the Uniform Civil Code, living together partners must register with the district administration. Also, if they are below 21 years of age, they need parental consent to live together. Registration is mandatory even if the partner is from outside the state.

If the partner is married or in another relationship and the partner is underage, cohabiting relationships where the partner consents through coercion or fraud cannot also be registered.

A government source told a national media that a website is being prepared to receive details related to living relationship. If the authority of living registration refuses, the registrar should inform him/her the reason.

A written statement is required to terminate the relationship once registered. A format will be prepared for it. The reasons for terminating the relationship should be mentioned. If the registrar feels that the reasons given by you are 'false' or 'suspicious', the police will be informed.

Providing false information in the affidavit of living relationship shall be punishable with imprisonment for three months or with fine of Rs 25,000 or should undergo both. Failure to register the living relationship will result in a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.

Children born out of live-in relationships are legally recognized, ie, they would be the legitimate child of the 'couple'. This child also gets all the rights that a child born to married people gets. It cannot be said as illegitimate. Inheritance (including parental property) will be equal for all children.

A woman can claim compensation if her living partner deserts her. The Uniform Civil Code is the general law applicable to all citizens. There are no religion-based laws for marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc. A complete ban on polygamy and child marriage will be imposed. The age of marriage for girls of all religions will be unified.

The Uniform Civil Code was one of the main promises made by the BJP for the assembly elections held last year. The procedures were accelerated after the BJP government came to power.