Amit Shah Advocates Equal Laws with Gujarat's UCC Bill Approval
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Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his approval on Wednesday regarding the recent enactment of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2026 by the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He emphasized that the nation should operate on the principle of equal laws for all individuals.
Following Uttarakhand, Gujarat has become the second state to adopt the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday, which establishes a unified legal framework for civil issues including marriage, divorce, maintenance, and inheritance applicable across various communities and religions.
In a message shared on X, Shah stated, "Our conviction is evident: the nation must not be governed through appeasement but rather through the principle of equal laws for every citizen. This is our commitment and priority."
The Union Home Minister highlighted that implementing a uniform law is a fundamental commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"A uniform law for every citizen has been a foundational promise of the BJP since its beginning. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, state governments led by the BJP are consistently advancing in this direction," he remarked.
He commended Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and the MLAs who supported the Bill.
Shah noted, "I am delighted that after Uttarakhand, Gujarat has successfully passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, showcasing its strong commitment to this principle. I congratulate Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and all legislators who backed this Bill."
Importantly, the UCC legislation mandates the compulsory registration of marriages and divorces and establishes standardized grounds and procedures for divorce across communities.
It prohibits extrajudicial divorce methods, necessitating court-based legal processes.
The Bill also enforces monogamy and includes provisions that render marriages void in cases of concealed identity.
Additionally, it introduces penal measures for instances of fraud, coercion, or misrepresentation in marriage, outlining specific penalties for these offenses.
The law secures maintenance rights for women without restrictions tied to personal laws and guarantees equal inheritance rights for daughters and spouses.
The Bill also necessitates the registration of live-in relationships with local authorities, which the government claims aims to provide legal protection and accountability.