Gujarat Assembly Passes Landmark Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026
In a historic move, the Gujarat assembly on Tuesday passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026, establishing a common legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships for all citizens, irrespective of religion or community. The bill was passed with a majority vote, leveraging the BJP's overwhelming majority of 161 out of 182 seats in the assembly, after extensive discussions where multiple members expressed their views on the proposed legislation.
Gujarat Becomes Second State to Enact UCC
Gujarat has now become the second Indian state, following Uttarakhand, to pass a bill enforcing a uniform civil code. Notably, the provisions of this UCC bill will not apply to members of scheduled tribes (STs), maintaining certain exemptions as part of the legislative framework.
Key Provisions and Reforms
Tabling the bill in the house, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel emphasized that the Uniform Civil Code is a key reform championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The primary aim of introducing this bill is to ensure social harmony and national unity. The Supreme Court has also highlighted that a UCC will secure women's rights," Patel stated during the assembly session.
The bill introduces several critical measures:
- Mandatory Registration: Marriage and divorce must be registered, with fines up to Rs 10,000 for non-compliance.
- Live-in Relationships: All live-in relationships require compulsory registration, and termination must be notified. Children from such relationships are deemed legitimate, and deserted women can claim maintenance.
- Ban on Polygamy: Polygamy is prohibited, and forced marriages can lead to imprisonment of up to seven years.
- Divorce Regulations: Only court decrees are valid for divorce; other forms are punishable by up to three years in prison. The bill allows remarriage without conditions post-divorce, banning practices like 'halala' in certain communities.
Political and Social Implications
Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi advocated strongly for the legislation, noting that since India's independence in 1947, civil laws have varied by religion, community, and caste, often disadvantaging women. "This new law creates a uniform legal framework for marriage and inheritance, ensuring equal rights under the law for all citizens, without targeting any specific religion," Sanghavi explained.
He added that the bill was drafted after a comprehensive consultative process, with the UCC panel receiving over 20 lakh suggestions. "Marriages based on deceit or fake identities have become a social evil and organized crime, which this law aims to prevent, as directed by courts," Sanghavi remarked, citing examples from countries like France, Germany, and Turkey with similar laws.
Opposition and Support Voices
State Congress president Amit Chavda criticized the bill as "politically motivated," questioning why the Justice Ranjana Desai panel report wasn't shared with MLAs before introduction. He demanded referral to a committee for further study in the next session.
Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar raised concerns about clarity regarding non-Gujarat residents and potential conflicts with constitutional rights in live-in relationship provisions.
BJP MLA and former Speaker Ramanlal Vora argued that some parties engage in minority appeasement while neglecting women's rights, linking the rise of 'love jihad' cases to the absence of a UCC.
In a supportive stance, Congress MLA Imran Khedawala welcomed the ban on 'halala', stating, "On a constitutional basis, I support this bill as it aims to secure women's rights."
Background and Committee Report
The bill stems from a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai, formed in February 2025 to assess the need for a UCC and draft legislation. The committee submitted its final report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on March 17, leading to the bill's tabling on March 24.
