Madhya Pradesh cabinet clears draft UCC bill; Adivasis exempted

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Sunday approved a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill that would prohibit polygamy and introduce strict rules for live-in relationships, while exempting Scheduled Tribe communities from its provisions. The bill is expected to be tabled in the state Assembly during the Monsoon Session starting Monday.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the UCC aims to secure equal rights and justice for all citizens. Citing feedback to the drafting committee, he claimed more than 80% of Muslim women and 40% of Muslim men had expressed support for the measure.

The draft seeks to criminalise practices such as triple talaq and nikah halala, and would ban polygamy. It also proposes mandatory registration for live-in couples: partners would have to submit an affidavit to the local registrar within a month of commencing the relationship, and failure to comply could invite legal action. If either partner is under 21, parents or guardians would be notified and records shared with the police. The draft further stipulates that a married person entering a live-in relationship could face up to five years in jail.

The cabinet said Scheduled Tribe communities are excluded to protect their “unique cultural heritage and traditional lifestyle,” the state government stated.

The Opposition has questioned the necessity and timing of the legislation. The move follows similar actions in other BJP-ruled states: Uttarakhand implemented a UCC in January 2025, Gujarat passed a UCC bill in March, and Assam approved a UCC bill on May 27. Goa continues to operate under a common civil code inherited from the Portuguese era.