Assam introduces UCC bill to ban polygamy, mandate live in registration
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Guwahati: The Assam government on Monday introduced a Uniform Civil Code bill in the state assembly that seeks to ban polygamy and make registration of live in relationships compulsory.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Atul Bora tabled "The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill" on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The bill aims to consolidate and simplify laws governing marriage, divorce, succession and live in relationships, the statement of objects and reasons says.
Under the draft law, the minimum age for marriage is set at 21 for men and 18 for women, and polygamy would be prohibited. For the first time, the bill provides a legal framework for live in relationships and requires their registration so that the rights of partners — and any children born of such unions — are formally recognised and protected, the chief minister said.
The bill exempts all Scheduled Tribes residing in Assam from its provisions.
Opposition parties including Congress, Raijor Dal and Trinamool Congress opposed the legislation in the assembly and called for broader consultations with stakeholders before it is progressed.
Gujarat passed its own UCC bill on March 24, which similarly bans bigamy, makes marriage and live in registration mandatory and prescribes up to seven years’ jail for marriages obtained by force, coercion or fraud. The Gujarat bill also exempts tribal communities and drew praise from the ruling BJP and criticism from Congress, which described it as discriminatory.
(Inputs from PTI)