Gandhinagar: In a move toward modern social regulation, the draft Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC), 2026, introduces mandatory registration for live-in relationships. As per the proposed law, partners must submit a statement to the Registrar, who will conduct a summary inquiry to ensure the relationship does not violate prohibited degrees of kinship or involve a minor.

Definition and Mandatory Registration

The Bill defines a “live-in relationship” as a relationship between a man and a woman who live together in a shared household in a relationship that is “in the nature of marriage”. Under Clause 384, it is compulsory for partners in such a relationship—whether they are residents of Gujarat or not—to submit a statement to the Registrar within whose jurisdiction they are living.

Furthermore, residents of Gujarat who are in live-in relationships outside the state are also permitted to submit such statements to the Registrar of their home jurisdiction.

The Registration Process and Police Involvement

Once a statement is submitted, the Registrar conducts a summary inquiry to ensure the relationship does not violate any legal prohibitions. The law mandates a high level of state oversight:

• Police Records: The Registrar is required to forward the statement of a live-in relationship to the officer in charge of the local police station for record-keeping.
• Parental Notification: If either partner is under the age of 21, the Registrar must inform the parents or guardians of the individual about the registration.

Prohibited Live-In Relationships

Under Clause 386, a live-in relationship cannot be registered if:

• The partners fall within the “degrees of prohibited relationship” (unless permitted by custom).
• At least one of the partners is already married or in another live-in relationship.
• At least one of the partners is a minor (under 18 years of age).
• Consent was obtained through force, coercion, fraud, or misrepresentation.

Legal Rights: Legitimacy and Maintenance

The Bill provides specific legal protections for individuals and children within such unions:

• Legitimacy of Children: Any child born from a live-in relationship is legally considered a legitimate child of the couple.
• Maintenance for Women: If a woman is deserted by her live-in partner, she is entitled to claim maintenance through a competent court, following the same principles applied to married women under the Code.

Termination of Relationship

Ending a live-in relationship also requires a formal process. Partners must submit a “statement of termination” to the Registrar. If only one partner seeks termination, the Registrar will provide a copy of the statement to the other partner and, if that partner is under 21, to their parents or guardians.

Strict Penalties for Non-Compliance

The Code introduces penalties for non-compliance or furnishing false information:

• Failure to Register: Couples who live together for more than one month without submitting a statement may face up to three months of imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹10,000, or both.
• False Information: Providing false details or concealing facts in the registration statement is punishable by up to three months in jail, a fine of ₹25,000, or both.
• Failure to Comply with Notice: If a couple fails to register even after receiving a formal notice from the Registrar, they may face up to six months of imprisonment and a fine of ₹25,000.
• Prohibited Unions: Partners in live-in relationships that violate rules on bigamy or prohibited degrees of relationship may face up to five years of imprisonment.

The state government emphasized that these provisions are designed to ensure transparency, protect the rights of women and children, and uphold social order. DeshGujarat