Guwahati, May 27: In a significant development, the Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Assam, 2026 Bill, paving the way for a common civil legal framework regarding marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships in the state.
The contentious Bill was passed in the House by voice vote after about five hours of discussion and debate as members of the Opposition parties, comprising the Congress, Raijor Dal and All India Trinamool Congress, demanded further consultations with stakeholders before the Bill was passed.
The legislation seeks to replace religion-based personal laws with a uniform set of provisions aimed at ensuring equality before the law and promoting gender justice.
Tribal communities have been kept outside the purview of the legislation to safeguard their constitutional protections.
With the passage of the UCC Bill in the state Assembly, Assam became the third state in the country, after Uttarakhand and Gujarat, to adopt a common set of laws for personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession for all citizens.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while presenting a detailed address in the Assembly on why the UCC Bill is significant for Assam, said “Uniform Civil Code aims to ensure mandatory registration of all marriages and live-in relationships, thereby promoting greater legal clarity and accountability.”
“UCC is rooted in the spirit of the Indian Constitution, reflecting the ideals of equality, justice and unity,” he said.
Addressing the media after passage of the Bill in the House, Sarma said the Bill would be sent to the Governor, and then to President for final assent.
“Once assent from the President is received, UCC will be implemented in assam,” the chief minister said, while adding that it will take around six months to formulate the necessary rules as per the approved Bill and implement it.
The chief minister further expressed gratitude to all MLAs of Assam for supporting the adoption of the UCC.
