Gujarat Assembly Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill After 7-Hour Debate

The Gujarat Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill with a majority voice vote after a marathon debate lasting over seven hours yesterday. The bill proposes a common legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships, irrespective of religion. Earlier in the day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tabled the bill, a week after a state-appointed panel submitted its final report on the implementation of the UCC.

With the passage of the bill, Gujarat becomes the second state in the country, after Uttarakhand, to adopt the UCC. Uttarakhand was the first state to pass a UCC Bill in February 2024.

Titled the ‘Gujarat Uniform Civil Code, 2026,’ the proposed law will apply throughout the state and to residents of Gujarat living outside its territorial limits. However, the bill specifies that the code will not apply to members of Scheduled Tribes (ST) and certain groups whose customary rights are protected under the Constitution.

The “Objects and Reasons” of the bill state that the code aims to create a uniform legal framework. Among its provisions, the bill includes registration of live-in relationships and formal processes for their termination. Additionally, it prohibits bigamy, stating that an individual cannot enter into a second marriage while their spouse is still alive. A marriage will be considered valid under the code only if neither party has a living spouse at the time of marriage.

While tabling the bill, CM Patel described it as a step toward a unified legal framework grounded in constitutional principles.