GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat Assembly has passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority voice vote following a debate that lasted over seven hours, making the state the second in the country to adopt such a law after Uttarakhand.
Titled the ‘Gujarat Uniform Civil Code, 2026’, the legislation proposes a common legal framework governing marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships, irrespective of religion. The bill was tabled earlier in the day by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a week after a state-appointed panel submitted its final report on the implementation of the code.
The law will be applicable across Gujarat and extend to residents of the state living outside its territorial limits. However, it excludes members of Scheduled Tribes and certain communities whose customary rights are protected under the Constitution.
According to the “Objects and Reasons” of the bill, the code seeks to establish a uniform legal structure. Key provisions include mandatory registration of live-in relationships and a defined process for their termination. It also prohibits bigamy, stating that no person can enter into a second marriage while their spouse is alive, and recognizes a marriage as valid only if neither party has a living spouse at the time.
While introducing the bill, Patel described it as a step toward creating a unified legal framework rooted in constitutional principles. (Agencies)
