Poonam Nath

Assam delays implementation of UCC; waits for central law applicable throughout the nation

Digital Desk: Assam, which had been gearing up to introduce its version of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) last year, has decided to pause the process and wait for a central law that would be applicable across all states.

The announcement came following Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s implementation of the UCC in his state. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “Uttarakhand has implemented it, and after this, the UCC will be implemented nationwide, and Assam will follow suit.”

Currently, apart from Uttarakhand, only BJP-led states like Gujarat and Assam have shown an interest in the UCC. This legal framework aims to standardize personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and succession for all citizens, irrespective of religion or community, promoting equality and streamlined governance in civil matters.

In February last year, Assam had been working on introducing a standalone anti-polygamy bill in the assembly while exploring the possibility of adopting a comprehensive UCC similar to Uttarakhand’s framework.

Moreover, the state government held discussions about combining the anti-polygamy legislation with UCC bills to create a stronger and more unified legal structure.