Registration mandatory for living together partners; Uttarakhand passes Uniform Civil Code

NEW DELHI: Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly has passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill making Uttarakhand the first state in India to implement such a law. The bill, introduced in the assembly yesterday, aims to bring all citizens under the same legal system regardless of caste, religion or gender in matters of marriage, divorce and succession.

Under the Uniform Civil Code Bill, partners living together must register with district authorities, with parental consent required if they are under twenty-one years old. Registration is mandatory even for partners from outside the state.

Coercion or fraud in registering cohabiting relationships involving married or otherwise committed partners, especially if one is underage, is prohibited.

A government source revealed plans for a website to facilitate living relationship registrations, with authorities required to justify refusals.

Terminating a registered relationship requires a written statement with stated reasons, subject to verification by registrars and possible police involvement for false or suspicious claims.

Providing false information in living relationship affidavits carries penalties of imprisonment up to three months or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both. Failure to register may result in up to six months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.

Children born from live-in relationships are legally recognized and entitled to the same rights as children born to married couples, including equal inheritance rights.

Women deserted by their living partners can claim compensation. The Uniform Civil Code replaces religion-based laws for marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, also banning polygamy and child marriage with a unified age of marriage for girls across religions.