Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has taken a major step towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), with the state Cabinet approving the draft legislation that seeks to introduce a common set of civil laws for all citizens, regardless of religion. The Bill is expected to be introduced during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Assembly.
One of the biggest changes proposed in the draft is the introduction of monogamy as the legal norm for everyone covered under the law. It also guarantees equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters, aiming to remove disparities in succession laws based on personal religious practices. The draft further proposes uniform rules for marriage, divorce, adoption, maintenance and succession, while making the registration of marriages compulsory.
The proposed legislation also brings live-in relationships under a legal framework. Couples in such relationships will be required to register them, a move the government says is intended to provide legal clarity and safeguard the rights of both partners. The Bill also lays down provisions dealing with violations of these rules, including cases involving married individuals entering live-in relationships.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the proposed law is intended to ensure that every citizen enjoys the same civil rights, irrespective of faith. According to the government, the objective is to establish a uniform legal framework in matters related to family law while upholding the constitutional principle of equality before the law.
However, the draft makes an important exception. Scheduled Tribes and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) living in notified tribal areas will remain outside the scope of the proposed law, keeping in view the constitutional safeguards that protect their traditional customs and practices.
The move places Madhya Pradesh among the states actively pursuing a Uniform Civil Code. The issue has remained at the centre of national political and legal discussions for years, with supporters arguing that a common civil law would promote gender justice and equal rights, while critics have expressed concerns over its impact on religious personal laws and cultural diversity.
The Cabinet’s approval does not make the law effective immediately. The draft Bill must first be debated and passed by the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly before it can come into force. If enacted, it would mark one of the state’s most significant reforms in personal civil law, affecting matters such as marriage, inheritance, adoption and family rights for those covered under its provisions.
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