2 lakh marriages, 90 live-ins listed under UCC ahead of July 27 cutoff
With the six-month deadline prescribed by Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for registration of marriages, divorces and live-in ties approaching on July 27, the state government is planning a door-to-door drive to expand coverage. Top sources in the BJP-ruled state today said since the rollout of the UCC on January 27, over two lakh marriages and 90 live-in relationships had been registered under the code.
The law states that all marriages that took place from March 26, 2010, to the implementation of the Act must be registered within six months of the rollout of the UCC, as well as all divorces and live-in ties.
The trend of lukewarm response to disclosure and registration of live-in relationships has continued since the implementation of the UCC in Uttarakhand this January. The provision stands challenged in the state high court, which will hear the Centre’s position on the issue on July 14, the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, top state officials told The Tribune that about 90 live-in relationship registrations had happened under the UCC, and in 72 per cent of these cases, children have also been documented and would be entitled to the same rights as children born to married couples. The Uttarakhand UCC mainly deals with three segments — marriages/divorces, live-in ties and succession. The main objective, the officials said, was granting equal, if not more rights, to women than men.
Under the law, from day one of implementation, all discriminatory practices such as polygamy, polygyny and nikah halala were outlawed in the state. “The UCC protects women in live-in ties and is positively biased towards them. Women in live-in ties, until they remarry or enter another relationship, can claim maintenance in case of abandonment. Her male partner won’t have this right,” the officials said.
They said all marriages, live-in relationships and divorces would now need registrations and children born to live-in couples would have the same rights as those born to married couples or adopted by them. “For these rights to flow, registrations are essential, which is why door-to-door drives will be held to help people register. Marriages solemnised before March 26, 2010, do not require registrations, although people can register if they want,” state government sources said.
Under the law, once disclosed, marriages can be registered with sub-registrars, identified in the UCC law as block village development officers. Live-in relationships are to be registered with SDMs. Non-disclosure of live-in ties can invite jail terms and fines. The UCC states: “Whoever stays in a live-in relationship for over a month from starting it without making a statement will be punished with jail up to 3 months or a fine up to Rs 10,000 or both. Anyone making a false statement can be punished with up to 3 months in jail and up to Rs 25,000 fine or both. A partner who fails to submit a statement after being given a 30-day notice by the registrar can invite up to 6 months in jail or up to Rs 25,000 fine or both.”
Uttarakhand