Overview
- The Madhya Pradesh Assembly approved the Madhya Pradesh Uniform Civil Code Bill on July 21, and the measure now awaits the Governor’s assent before it can take effect.
- The bill standardizes marriage, divorce, succession and live-in relationship rules, including compulsory marriage registration, judicial-only divorce, a polygamy ban, and equal inheritance rights for daughters.
- The law would require registration of live-in relationships and creates a criminal penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment for a married man who deceives his wife and enters a live-in relationship.
- Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the government consulted widely — claiming outreach to 3.5 crore people and about 10 lakh suggestions — while opposition MLAs sought referral to a select committee and staged protests during the debate.
- Chhattisgarh has launched a five-member expert panel chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and plans to table its own UCC bill in the winter assembly session after public consultations on a dedicated portal.