Our Bureau
Dehradun
Individuals, who are in, or planning to enter into live-in relationships, should register themselves under Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Those who fail to adhere to the rules will face a jail term of up to six months and a fine of Rs 25,000 or both. On February 7, the Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, becoming the first legislature in independent India to pass a law that proposes common rules on marriage, divorce, inheritance of property, and live-in relationships for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.
As per the law, parental consent is required for individuals below the age of 21 and should submit a statement to the Registrar stating whether they are residents of Uttarakhand or not. If individuals stay in a live-in relationship for more than a month without submitting a statement, they could be punished and sent to jail for up to three months or fined Rs 10,000 or both.
If live-in partners withhold information or give a false statement in their undertaking, they will face imprisonment for up to three months and a fine not exceeding Rs 25,000 or both.
The statements of live-in partners will be forwarded to the officer in charge of a local police station. The police station will be informed by the authorities if the details provided in the statement turn out to be incorrect.
As per the Uttarakhand UCC, a woman who has been deserted in a live-in relationship can approach the court and is entitled to claim maintenance. A child in a live-in relationship will be declared the legitimate child of the couple under the UCC provisions.
