Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has introduced Gujarat Bill No. 17 of 2026, titled the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC), 2026, seeking to establish a common legal framework governing marriage, divorce, succession, inheritance, and live-in relationships for all residents of the state, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, or gender.

The proposed legislation aims to standardise personal laws in line with Article 44 of the Constitution, which calls for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code to promote equality and social reform.

The Bill has been drafted on the basis of recommendations made by a committee headed by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, which examined existing personal laws and practices across different communities before proposing a uniform legal system.

Mandatory registration, monogamy and uniform marriage rules

Under the proposed code, all marriages and divorces must be registered with the state authorities. The Bill lays down strict conditions for a valid marriage, most notably enforcing monogamy, by requiring that neither party has a living spouse at the time of the ceremony.

The minimum marriageable age is fixed at 21 years for men and 18 years for women, and couples will be required to register their marriage within the prescribed period, failing which a fine may be imposed.

Marriages may be performed according to religious customs such as Saptapadi, Nikah, and Anand Karaj, but registration will remain mandatory. The Bill also defines prohibited degrees of relationship, barring marriage between close relatives, except where such unions are permitted by long-standing customs not opposed to public policy or morality.

Uniform divorce, maintenance and child welfare provisions

The draft code introduces common grounds for divorce across all communities, including cruelty, adultery, desertion for two years, conversion, mental illness, mutual consent, and presumption of death after seven years of absence. Divorce petitions generally cannot be filed within the first year of marriage except in exceptional circumstances.

In matters concerning children, the Bill states that the welfare of the child will be the primary consideration, and custody of children below five years of age will ordinarily remain with the mother.

Children born from void or voidable marriages, as well as from registered live-in relationships, will be treated as legitimate. Courts will have the power to order maintenance, alimony, and litigation expenses based on the income and assets of both parties, and gifts, dowry, or stridhan given to the wife will remain her property.

Live-in relationships to require compulsory registration

In a major change, the Bill introduces mandatory registration of live-in relationships. Partners must submit a statement to the Registrar, who may conduct a summary inquiry to ensure that the relationship does not involve a minor or fall within prohibited degrees of kinship.

Failure to register a live-in relationship within one month may attract up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of ₹10,000, or both, while providing false information may lead to higher penalties. A woman deserted by her live-in partner will have the right to claim maintenance through the court.

Uniform succession and inheritance system

The Bill replaces religion-based inheritance laws with a uniform scheme of succession. In case of death without a will, property will first pass to Class-1 heirs, including the spouse, children, and parents, who will receive equal shares.

If no such heirs exist, the property will pass to Class-2 heirs, such as siblings, grandparents, and their descendants.

The Bill also lays down rules for execution of wills, requiring them to be in writing and attested by at least two witnesses, while allowing special provisions for soldiers, airmen, and mariners in active service. If no legal heir is found, the property will escheat to the State Government.

Expanded definition of child and legal protections

A key feature of the Bill is the protection of children’s legal status. Children born from marriages later declared void or voidable will be considered legitimate. This protection is also extended to children born from registered live-in relationships.

In custody matters, the court must give paramount importance to the best interests and welfare of the child, with a general rule that children below five years of age remain with the mother.

Penalties and enforcement provisions

To ensure compliance, the Bill prescribes penalties for violations, including punishment for bigamy under existing criminal law, imprisonment for divorce carried out outside the provisions of the code, and fines or jail for failure to register marriages, divorces, or live-in relationships.

Exemptions for Scheduled Tribes and protected customary groups

The proposed Uniform Civil Code will apply to all residents of Gujarat, including those living outside the state, but members of Scheduled Tribes and communities whose customary rights are protected under the Constitution have been kept outside its scope.

The government has stated that the law aims to promote equality, gender justice, and social reform, while respecting religious ceremonies and cultural practices. The Bill also provides that the state government may remove difficulties in implementation for a limited period after the law comes into force. DeshGujarat