Gujarat UCC becomes law after President Droupadi Murmu gives assent

President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code Bill, making Gujarat the second state in India to adopt the legislation.

The decision clears the path for the state government to draft and publish the final rules, after which the law will officially come into effect. It follows Uttarakhand, which became the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in February 2024.

The law seeks to replace faith-based personal laws with a single legal framework governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and relationships for all citizens in the state.

What the new Gujarat UCC law changes

The new code introduces major changes to how relationships and marriages are legally recognised in Gujarat. It mandates that all marriages and divorces must be registered. Couples who fail to do so face a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

Registration is also compulsory for all live-in relationships. Partners must notify local authorities when they move in together, and they must notify them again if the relationship ends. The law does, however, provide legal protections for children born from these relationships, declaring them legitimate. It also allows women deserted by their live-in partners to claim financial maintenance.

Under the new rules, polygamy is banned. Anyone who forces or coerces someone into marriage faces up to seven years in prison. Divorcing outside the formal court system is also criminalised, carrying a potential three-year prison sentence. The law also permits divorced couples to remarry without conditions, explicitly banning practices like 'halala'.

Who is excluded and why it is contested

A major exemption in the bill is for Scheduled Tribes, who are entirely excluded from the provisions of the UCC. This exemption has already sparked political debate. Chatar Vasavane, an AAP MLA, pointed out that the government has not clarified how the law will affect tribal women who marry outside their communities, arguing that the legislation was rushed through for electoral advantage ahead of local body polls.

The opposition Congress party took a harsher line during the bill's passage through the assembly in March, staging a walkout before the final voice vote and demanding the bill be sent to a select committee. Congress MLA Imran Khedawala told India Today TV that the legislation is "against our society" because it conflicts with Sharia and the Quran.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, however, rejected these criticisms, framing the law as a progressive step for women. "This Bill has been introduced for the sisters and daughters of Gujarat," Patel said, adding that the state is helping build a "developed India by 2047." He argued the code ensures no community faces discrimination, nor does it strip anyone of their fundamental freedoms. Patel also noted that the Supreme Court has previously suggested a uniform code is necessary to secure women's rights.