Assam cabinet approves Uniform Civil Code implementation, says Himanta

The Assam Cabinet has approved implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, with tribal communities exempted from its scope. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the bill would be introduced in the legislative assembly on May 26 and cover marriage, succession and divorce registration

Guwahati: The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday approved the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, but the tribal population will be kept outside its purview, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The UCC Bill will be laid before the new legislative assembly on May 26, the chief minister said at a press conference here after chairing the first cabinet meeting of his second term as the head of the government.

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“This is a major decision taken in the first cabinet meeting and aligns with the commitment we made during the elections,” he said.

Sarma said Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat have already implemented the UCC, but his government has customised it to suit the requirements of Assam.

“We have completely exempted the tribal population from the purview of the UCC. All rituals, traditions and customs practised by the people of Assam will remain outside the scope of the UCC,” he said.

The UCC will deal with succession, marriage, live-in relationships, and compulsory registration of marriage and divorce, he added.