Uttarakhand UCC Makes History: Live-in Relationships Legal, Children Get Inheritance Rights

Dehradun, India: The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday introduces a novel approach to live-in relationships, granting them legal recognition and children born from them inheritance rights.

Key Provisions:

Mandatory Registration: Individuals in or planning live-in relationships must register with district officials. Parental consent is required for those under 21.

Legal Recognition: Registered relationships gain legal status, protecting individuals' rights and establishing child legitimacy.

Children's Rights: Children born in live-in relationships will be considered legitimate and have equal inheritance rights like children born in marriage.

Woman's Right to Maintenance: A woman deserted by her live-in partner can claim maintenance.

Registration Process:

• Online portal for registration with verification by District Registrar.
• Summary inquiry to establish validity of the relationship.
• Written termination process with possible police investigation for suspicious reasons.

Penalties:

• Failure to register: Imprisonment up to 6 months, fine of ₹ 25,000, or both.
• Late registration: Imprisonment up to 3 months, fine of ₹ 10,000, or both.
• False information: Imprisonment up to 3 months, fine of ₹ 25,000, or both.

Significance:

• Uttarakhand becomes the first state to comprehensively recognize live-in relationships and children's rights within the UCC.
• Move expected to provide social security and legal protection to individuals in non-marital partnerships.
• Raises potential debates on societal impact and implementation challenges.

Additional Details:

• The UCC also bans polygamy, child marriage, and practices like 'halala' and 'iddat'.
• A standardized marriageable age for girls across all faiths is proposed.
• The draft underwent public consultation and received feedback from over 2 lakh individuals.

This news highlights the groundbreaking step taken by Uttarakhand in recognizing live-in relationships and protecting the rights of individuals and children involved. The implementation and societal impact of these provisions remain to be seen, but they undoubtedly spark conversations about evolving family structures and legal frameworks in India.