Guwahati: The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill, establishing a common legal framework to govern personal matters such as marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships across all religious communities. With the passage of this landmark legislation, Assam has become the third state in India to adopt a Uniform Civil Code through a state assembly vote, following in the footsteps of Uttarakhand and Gujarat. Goa also operates under a common civil code, which has been maintained continuously since its Portuguese colonial era.
The legislation passed through a voice vote following a day-long, emotionally charged debate. Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected a collective demand from the Opposition benches to refer the Bill to a select committee for broader public consultation and deeper scrutiny. The rejection prompted Opposition members to storm into the Well of the House, staging a disruptive protest and shouting slogans. In contrast, members of the ruling treasury benches greeted the final passage of the bill with thunderous applause and slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jai Shree Ram”.
The core provisions of the Assam UCC Bill seek to fundamentally standardise personal laws while implementing strict regulatory measures. The bill formally bans polygamy and bigamy across the state, proposing a punitive measure of up to seven years of imprisonment for violators. Additionally, the legislation makes the registration of live-in relationships legally mandatory, introducing a penalty of up to three months in jail for couples who fail to register their partnership within the stipulated timeframe.
To protect indigenous rights and cultural autonomy, the state government has incorporated a significant exemption clause into the legislation. The Bill explicitly states that none of its provisions will be applicable to any individual belonging to the Scheduled Tribes residing within the state of Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who moved the bill for its final passage, has maintained that the law is a progressive step toward ensuring gender justice and equal rights for women in matrimonial and property disputes, while the Opposition continues to critique the speed of its implementation.
