The passage of the Assam Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 marks the third BJP-ruled state to move ahead with common civil legislation, banning polygamy

The Assam Legislative Assembly has successfully passed the highly debated Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, amid heavy resistance and loud shouting matches from opposition benches. The legislative clearance, passed via a voice vote on Wednesday, turns Assam into the third BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to establish a common civil framework. 

Core legal reforms introduced

The newly passed legislation aims to replace diverse, religion-based personal laws with a uniform set of civil codes governing marriage age, divorce, alimony, property inheritance, and child adoption across all resident communities. The law sets a standardized legal marriage age of 21 years for grooms and 18 years for brides. Crucially, it proposes stringent penalties for violations, including up to seven years of imprisonment for bigamy or polygamy, and up to three months in jail for failing to register a live-in relationship.

Exclusions for tribal populations

Addressing deep-seated concerns over the preservation of indigenous identities in the Northeast, the state government clarified that tribal communities will remain entirely outside the purview of the law. The Bill explicitly states that it will not apply to the Scheduled Tribes of Assam. To safeguard cultural diversity, full freedom of ritual remains intact, allowing marriages to be solemnized through any existing religious ceremony or custom, including Nikah, Vedic Bibah, Anand Karaj, or Holy Union.

Opposition flags social harmony

The opposition benches staged noisy protests, moving into the Well of the House and demanding that the legislation be referred to a select committee for wider public consultations. Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected the demand, leading to sustained sloganeering while the ruling bench pushed the Bill through. Despite the political pushback, the ruling NDA coalition cleared the landmark bill, fulfilling a major core electoral promise from their assembly election manifesto.

The Assam Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill on Wednesday, making the state the third in the country to enact the common law after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, bringing in a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships across all religious communities in the state. The legislation was cleared through a voice vote after a day-long debate that saw sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches.

Opposition Walks to Well

As Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected the opposition's demand to send the Bill to a select committee for wider consultations, legislators from Congress and other opposition parties moved to the Well of the House. They raised slogans even as the voting proceeded. The Speaker then called upon Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to move the Bill for passage.

Treasury benches responded with chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Shree Ram" as the Bill was put to vote.

What the Bill Changes

According to the Statement of Object and Reasons attached to the Bill, the proposed law seeks to simplify and unify rules governing personal matters that are currently guided by different religious codes. The legislation explicitly bans polygamy across all communities.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the House that the Bill sets the minimum marriage age at 21 years for men and 18 years for women. Officials confirmed that the age provision applies uniformly regardless of religion.

Live-in Relationships Come Under Scanner

The Bill introduces a mandatory registration framework for live-in relationships. Sources familiar with the draft said the provision aims to formally recognise and protect the rights of partners and any children born from such relationships. Registration will be required within a specified timeframe, though procedural details are yet to be notified.

Local authorities in Guwahati and other district headquarters have begun preliminary groundwork for implementing the registration system, officials said.

Assam Joins Uttarakhand, Gujarat

With this passage, Assam becomes the third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to pass a UCC Bill. Goa already follows a common civil law framework dating back to the Portuguese era, though legal experts note that Goa's model differs in certain provisions.

The Assam UCC Bill 2026 had been flagged by the Sarma administration as a priority legislation. Speaking in the Assembly after tabling the Bill, the Chief Minister reminded members of his earlier stance. "I already gave this option before that I will clear the Bill in the first session itself. If you want to stop this, prevent me from becoming CM. There is no point now in sending it to a select committee," he said.

What Happens Next

The Bill now awaits the Governor's assent before it can be notified as an Act. Officials indicated that the implementation timeline would be worked out in consultation with district administrations. Legal experts have said challenges to certain provisions cannot be ruled out once the law comes into force.

The opposition has indicated it may explore legal options. Meanwhile, the state government is preparing a public awareness campaign ahead of implementation.

Assam Cabinet Clears UCC Bill; Presentation in Assembly on May 26

The Assam Cabinet has officially approved the draft of the Uniform Civil Code Bill, scheduled for introduction in the state assembly on May 26, while exempting tribal communities.

 In a significant move toward fulfilling a core electoral promise, the Assam Cabinet on Wednesday gave its green light to the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressing the media following the cabinet meeting, confirmed that the legislation is set to be tabled on the floor of the Assembly on May 26, marking the final day of the ongoing session.

The development signals the BJP-led government’s intent to streamline personal laws in the state, making Assam one of the few Indian states to move toward a common legal framework for civil matters. The Chief Minister indicated that the Bill focuses primarily on the legalities surrounding marriage, divorce, and the emerging legal landscape of live-in relationships.

Focus on Mandatory Registration

A primary pillar of the proposed law in Assam is the compulsory registration of marriages and divorces. Sources familiar with the matter said the government aims to create a transparent legal trail for these civil unions to prevent litigation and protect the rights of spouses. By making registration mandatory, the state intends to bring all such personal milestones under a unified administrative umbrella, regardless of the religion of the parties involved.

The Chief Minister noted that the legislation draws inspiration from existing models in Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Goa. While the core principles of the Uniform Civil Code aim for a singular legal standard, the Assam version has been tailored to meet the specific socio-political realities of the Northeast.

Tribal Communities Kept Outside

Recognizing the state's complex social fabric, the Cabinet has decided to fully exempt tribal communities from the purview of the UCC. This decision comes after extensive internal deliberations regarding the protection of indigenous identities. Tribal groups in Assam are governed by diverse customs, rituals, and traditional laws that have been preserved for generations.

"Assam is a land of many communities, each with its own separate traditions," Sarma told reporters. He clarified that the law would not interfere with the unique cultural practices of the state's tribal population, ensuring that their customary rights remain untouched even as the rest of the state transitions to the new civil code.

Aligning with National Trends

The push for UCC in Assam is part of a broader momentum within BJP-governed states. Uttarakhand recently became the first state in independent India to pass such a law, and Gujarat is reportedly in the advanced stages of drafting its own version. For the Sarma administration, this move is seen as a fulfillment of a "long-standing promise" made during the election campaign.

Supporters of the Bill argue that a common civil law is essential for gender justice and equality, replacing fragmented personal laws based on religious texts with a modern, secular legal framework. However, the move is expected to face scrutiny from opposition benches and certain community leaders who view it as an infringement on religious freedom.

Implementation and Legal Scope

Beyond marriage, the UCC is expected to cover aspects of inheritance and adoption. By creating a uniform set of rules, the government hopes to simplify the judicial process in civil disputes. Legal experts suggest that the inclusion of live-in relationships—modeled after the Uttarakhand Bill—might require individuals to register their status with local authorities, a move that has sparked debates on privacy in other states.

Local authorities in Guwahati have indicated that administrative preparations are already being discussed to handle the projected increase in civil registrations once the Bill is passed and notified.

Political Significance of May 26

The timing of the Bill’s introduction is noteworthy. Presenting it on the final day of the Assembly session ensures that the UCC remains the focal point of the state's political discourse heading into the monsoon season. The "NDA 3.0" government in Assam has positioned this as a landmark reform, characterizing it as a step toward a "New Assam" where development and legal uniformity go hand-in-hand.

As the state prepares for the May 26 session, all eyes will be on the specific clauses of the draft, particularly how it balances the push for uniformity with the diverse cultural landscape of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys.

SC Notice to Centre on Muslim Inheritance Law Plea

Petition Alleges Gender Discrimination

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the Union government’s response on a public interest litigation challenging the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, over provisions that allegedly discriminate against Muslim women in matters of inheritance.

A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued notice to the Ministry of Minority Affairs after hearing advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for petitioners Poulomi Pavini Shukla and the Nyaya Naari Foundation.

Constitutional Violations Flagged

The petition contends that existing inheritance rules under the Shariat Act grant Muslim women half or even less of the share given to male counterparts. This, the plea argues, violates Article 14, which guarantees the right to equality.

Bhushan submitted that succession is a civil matter and does not qualify as an “essential religious practice” protected under Article 25 of the Constitution. “This is a very important constitutional issue that requires consideration by this Court,” he told the Bench.

Court Tags With Pending Cases

The Bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Panchol, tagged the matter with similar pending petitions. The court is already hearing cases filed by Muslim individuals seeking application of the Indian Succession Act instead of Shariat law in inheritance disputes.

According to officials familiar with the proceedings, the court agreed that the issue warrants constitutional scrutiny.

Uttarakhand UCC Cited as Precedent

The petition has invoked the Uniform Civil Code enacted in Uttarakhand in 2024 to highlight geographical discrimination. It argues that Muslim women in Uttarakhand now receive equal inheritance rights under the UCC, while those in other states remain bound by the unequal provisions of the Shariat Act.

This creates an unconstitutional classification based solely on location, the plea states.

 Key Reliefs Sought Before Apex Court

The petitioners have asked the court to declare Section 2 of the 1937 Act void to the extent it discriminates against Muslim women, arguing it violates Articles 13, 14, 15, and 21. They also want a ruling that inheritance rules under Shariat are not essential religious practices.

Interim directions have been sought to ensure uniform, gender-equal inheritance rights for Muslims across India until Parliament amends the law. The plea also requests the court to direct the Union government to amend succession laws in line with constitutional guarantees.

 Constitutional Questions at Core

Legal experts tracking the case say it raises fundamental questions about the intersection of personal laws and fundamental rights. Can religious personal laws governing succession withstand scrutiny under the Constitution’s equality framework? The answer may reshape inheritance rights for millions of Muslim women.

 What Happens Next

The Centre has been given time to file its response. The Supreme Court is expected to take up the matter alongside pending petitions in the coming weeks. Legal observers note that any judgment could have far-reaching implications for personal law reforms across the country.

As per sources, the government is yet to formulate its official stand on whether it supports amending the 1937 Act or defending its provisions as protected religious practice.