The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill through a voice vote, establishing a common legal framework that mandates monogamy, gender equality in property inheritance, and, for the first time, registration of live-in relationships without religious bias.
Chief Minister's Statement
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who moved the bill for passage, described the legislation as a major step toward gender justice. The UCC was one of the key poll promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the last assembly election.
Exemptions and Next Steps
The bill, tabled earlier this week, exempts tribal communities, respecting their long-practiced customary laws. Following the Assam governor's approval, the bill will be sent for the President's assent, which is mandatory since the UCC deals with subjects on the Concurrent List. Assam becomes the fourth state, after Goa, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat, to approve a common civil code.
Assembly Debate and Passage
Legislators from both ruling and opposition benches debated the bill before CM Sarma delivered a marathon one-and-a-half-hour speech on its necessity. Amendment proposals from opposition MLAs were rejected, and Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass declined their demand to send the bill to a select committee for further deliberation. Opposition MLAs stormed the well of the House, shouting slogans, but the speaker asked Sarma to move the bill for passage. As the speaker announced the passage, BJP MLAs chanted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans.
Historical Significance
Sarma termed it a watershed moment in Assam's history, stating that the bill fulfills three vital objectives: Article 44 of the Constitution, BJP's founding ideals, and the party's electoral promise. In the previous assembly, Sarma had announced that if BJP returned to power and he became CM again, the UCC Bill would be introduced in the very first assembly session. True to his word, the bill was passed in the first session of the 16th Assembly after the National Democratic Alliance secured an overwhelming majority.
Implementation Timeline
Expressing gratitude to all members of the assembly, Sarma said once the bill receives the President's assent, it will be implemented in Assam in 'letter and spirit.' He noted that six to seven rules must be notified, and these are already prepared and ready. However, they cannot be passed until the President's assent is received on the bill. He expects the process to be completed within three to six months.
Opposition Reactions
While some opposition MLAs argued that it was not the right time to introduce the UCC amid inflation and rising fuel prices, Sarma countered that gas prices fluctuate, but one cannot restore a woman's dignity and respect once it is lost. 'There cannot be a better start to the five-year tenure,' he said. Congress Legislature Party leader Wazed Ali Choudhury said his party could not support the UCC, calling it contradictory to Shariat law. Other Congress MLAs, including Jakir Hussain Sikdar, sought a broader public discussion before its introduction. Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi alleged that the bill was brought forward merely to please BJP's central leadership and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
