Amendments are being made to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) implemented in Uttarakhand. Under the new provisions, marriage can now be registered within one year. Also, the penalty provisions in some sections have been made stricter.
Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has introduced significant amendments to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand Amendment Act 2025 was tabled in the House on Tuesday and is likely to be passed on Wednesday. The new provisions range from extending the deadline for marriage registration to stricter penalties for those who commit fraud in live-in relationships. The aim of these changes is to make the law more practical and bring transparency to society.
Marriage Registration Deadline Extended
Previously, the deadline for marriage registration was six months, which has now been extended to one year. This means that marriages that took place after the enactment of the act on March 26, 2020, can now be registered for up to one year. If a person does not register their marriage after this period, both a fine and penalty will be applicable.
In addition, procedures such as the appeal process, fee determination, and presentation before the sub-registrar have also been further clarified. This will facilitate citizens in completing the marriage registration process and reduce legal hurdles.
Strict Law on Live-in Relationships
The amended act further strengthens the provisions related to live-in relationships. Section 380(2): If a person, while already married, fraudulently enters into a live-in relationship, they will face imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine. However, this provision will not apply to those who have terminated the live-in relationship or whose partner has been missing for seven years or more.
Furthermore, if a person enters into a live-in relationship without dissolving their previous marriage, they will be punished under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which includes imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine.
Provisions Related to Consent and Fraud
New sub-sections have been added to Section 387 of the Uniform Civil Code. Under this, if a person obtains consent from another person through force, coercion, or fraud to establish a cohabitation relationship, they will be punished with imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine. This amendment is considered important for the protection of women and weaker sections.
The government says that these provisions will bring transparency to relationships and prevent incidents of fraud. Two new sections have been included in this amendment act:
- Section 390-A: The power to cancel the registration related to marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, or inheritance has been granted to the Registrar General. This change will help in bringing transparency at the administrative level and resolving disputes.
- Section 390-B: The recovery of fines imposed under the Act will be done in the same manner as arrears of land revenue. This means that the recovery process will be further strengthened so that punitive action proves effective.
Where the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was previously written, it has been corrected to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). In some places, 'fee' was mistakenly written instead of 'penalty,' which has now been corrected. These improvements will help in making the interpretation of the law easier and clearer.
