Assam Becomes First Northeastern State, 3rd In Country, To Pass Uniform Civil Code

The Assam Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on Wednesday after a long, heated debate, placing Assam alongside Uttarakhand and Gujarat as the third state to advance a UCC framework. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the legislation a major step for women's dignity and rights, even as opposition parties staged loud protests inside the House.

The Bill cleared the Assembly amid strong objections from Congress and the AIUDF, whose members challenged both the intent and the claimed “uniformity” of the law. They sought wider consultations and raised concerns about minority and tribal rights, while the ruling NDA described the move as historic and linked it to long-term social reform goals.

Assam UCC Bill: key provisions of the Uniform Civil Code framework

The Assam government introduced the UCC Bill in the Assembly on Monday. The proposal brings a single legal framework for marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationships, applying to all communities regardless of religion. It seeks to ban polygamy, outlaws bigamy and requires compulsory registration of live-in relationships through a formal process, adding penalties for violations.

The legislation prescribes imprisonment of up to seven years for bigamy or polygamy. It also provides for a jail term of up to three months for those who fail to register live-in relationships. However, Scheduled Tribes living in Assam remain outside the Bill's scope, with the government stating that tribal customs and traditional laws will stay protected under the exemption.

Assam UCC Bill: debate on women's rights and Uniform Civil Code aims

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma repeatedly framed the UCC Bill as centred on women's safety and respect. Calling the law a landmark reform, Sarma said, "UCC is the best beginning of our government's five-year journey." During discussions, Sarma stressed that protecting women's dignity must come before all other interests or short-term economic issues raised in political arguments.

Highlighting this point, Sarma told the House, "Gas price will increase, price will decrease one day, but if a girl loses her dignity, it can never be gained back." NDA allies echoed this position, claiming the Bill aligns with long-standing promises on women's rights. BJP MLA Diplu Ranjan Sharma said the introduction reflected the NDA government's commitment to its electoral pledges.

Assam UCC Bill: opposition questions Uniform Civil Code 'uniformity’

Opposition leaders argued that the UCC Bill served what they called the BJP's "political agenda" rather than legal necessity. Congress Legislature Party leader Wajed Ali Choudhury pointed out that matters such as child marriage, marriage registration, divorce, alimony and polygamy were already covered by various existing laws. Choudhury questioned why a separate UCC-style law was required without full consultations.

Choudhury told the Assembly, "The BJP brought it only for politics. It's not democratic to intervene in the personal issues of people. And how can a law excluding the tribals be called uniform?" Choudhury also claimed the government was diverting public attention from unemployment, recurring floods and the state of government-run schools by focusing on this Bill.

Assam UCC Bill: concerns over minorities, tribes and Uniform Civil Code process

Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar reminded the House that the Law Commission in 2018 had advised that there was no immediate need for a UCC. The Commission had recommended broad consultation before any such law. Sikdar alleged that the Assam government moved ahead without serious talks with religious bodies or social organisations, despite the sensitive nature of personal laws.

Sikdar said, "Unity in diversity is our motto," while urging the Assembly to hold wider consultation before approving the Bill. Sikdar and others also challenged the name of the legislation, arguing that a law that excludes tribal communities should not be called a Uniform Civil Code. Congress MLA Nurul Huda moved an amendment seeking inclusion of all tribes and communities, saying, "Our Constitution says there cannot be discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and religion."

AIUDF MLA Mazibur Rahman warned that the Bill would affect minority rights. Rahman argued that fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution could not be restricted in the name of Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 44. Rahman maintained that any change in personal laws must respect constitutional protections provided to all religious and social groups within the state.