The Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Sunday approved the draft Uniform Civil Code bill, which will give a common civil law in the state that bans triple talaq and polygamy, criminalizes ‘nikah halala,’ and makes registration of marriages and divorces compulsory in faiths. The bill is set to be introduced in the monsoon session of the assembly, which will begin today.
The decision, announced by Chief Minister Yadav, came following a cabinet meeting held at Chaman Mahal in Jagdishpur.
Along with banning practices like triple talaq, nikah halala, and polygamy and mandating compulsory registration of marriages and divorces across all religions, the bill prescribes three months’ imprisonment if live-in relationships are not registered within a month.
However, the Scheduled Tribes, including the Bhil, Gond, Korku, Baiga, Sahariya, and Bharia communities, which are covered under Articles 342 and 366 of the Constitution, are specifically exempted from the code.
The bill also provides equal status and inheritance rights to children irrespective of whether they are born in marriage, or through adoption, surrogacy, or assisted reproductive technology, or through a live-in relationship.
Talking to reporters, Mohan Yadav said it is a “major historic move.”
“Henceforth, there will be no special laws for specific groups in the state; people of all faiths will live under a unified legal framework. Whether it concerns live-in relationships or any other aspect of life, everything will be governed by the same set of rules,” he said, talking to reports.
“The UCC’s primary objective is to ensure the safety and empowerment of women, thereby eliminating long-standing discrimination faced under disparate personal laws regarding marriage, divorce, and inheritance,” Yadav said.
According to Yadav, the UCC will establish a common legal framework for all citizens in matters of marriage, divorce, maintenance, succession, and live-in relationships. Furthermore, he urged the political parties to support the bill and said that it would strengthen women’s empowerment, social harmony, and national unity.
