Madhya Pradesh set to clear UCC draft with live-in registration provision

Madhya Pradesh is set to approve the draft Uniform Civil Code, proposing mandatory registration of marriages and live-in relationships, uniform family laws and legal reforms. The government is expected to clear the draft before introducing the UCC Bill in the Assembly

Bhopal: Even live in relationships will need to be registered in Madhya Pradesh once the codified law known as the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) comes into force. The process of introducing the UCC in the state has reached a crucial stage, with the government expected to approve the final draft during a special cabinet meeting on Sunday in the historic town of Jagdishpur (erstwhile Islamnagar) near Bhopal. This will pave the way for the introduction of the UCC bill in the upcoming monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly.

A high level committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai has submitted its final report, prepared in three comprehensive volumes, to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The report proposes sweeping reforms to bring uniformity to personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and other family matters for all citizens, irrespective of religion.

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Key proposals in the draft include mandatory registration of marriages for people of all faiths within 1 to 2 months, recognition of divorce only after completion of the legal process, and invalidation of oral divorces. The draft also recommends treating remarriage while a spouse is alive and without legal divorce as a criminal offence.

For live in relationships, the committee suggests mandatory registration before a registrar, with cohabitation without registration made punishable. Children born out of such relationships would be granted statutory rights to ancestral property.

The committee has recommended keeping the Scheduled Tribe community outside the ambit of the UCC, following the approach adopted in states like Gujarat and Uttarakhand.

The report is divided into three sections: recommendations based on Indian and international laws; the actual draft bill, containing 404 sections and seven schedules; and a detailed analysis of over 9.58 lakh public suggestions received through various channels.

Once the cabinet gives its nod, the Law Department will prepare the final bill for tabling in the Assembly, scheduled for July 20. After passage and the Governor’s assent, the UCC will be notified to come into effect in the state.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has emphasised that the UCC aims to ensure equal legal rights for all citizens, particularly strengthening women’s rights and promoting uniformity in family laws. He has repeatedly asked the Congress party to clarify its position on the issue.

Meanwhile, State Congress President Jitu Patwari has criticised the move, alleging that the BJP government is using the UCC to divert attention from pressing issues like inflation, unemployment, farmers problems and women’s safety.