Now Reading: Rajasthan Cabinet clears UCC Bill, fifth BJP state to do so
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Rajasthan Cabinet clears UCC Bill, fifth BJP state to do so
The Rajasthan Cabinet approved the Uniform Civil Code Bill on August 13, set to be introduced in the monsoon session starting August 20. If passed, Rajasthan will become the fifth BJP-ruled state…
The Story in Brief
The Rajasthan Cabinet approved the Uniform Civil Code Bill on August 13, set to be introduced in the monsoon session starting August 20. If passed, Rajasthan will become the fifth BJP-ruled state to enact a UCC, after Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel said the law will govern marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance uniformly across religions but will exempt Scheduled Tribes.
The Bill mandates marriage registration within 60 days, with fines up to Rs 10,000 initially and Rs 25,000 for continued non-compliance. It prohibits polygamy, sets minimum marriage ages of 21 for men and 18 for women, and provides equal inheritance rights for sons and daughters, including children born from live-in relationships. The Congress has questioned the consultation process, saying public hearings were held without a written draft being made available, as reported by newindianexpress.com.
The Indian Opinion
The UCC debate is often reduced to a binary of modernity versus tradition, but the Rajasthan Bill exposes a more complicated reality. It bans polygamy and sets uniform marriage ages, yet carves out Scheduled Tribes entirely and still requires mandatory registration with fines up to Rs 25,000. The Congress complaint that consultations happened without a public draft is a legitimate process question, not mere obstruction. Watch how many of the 14 lakh suggestions actually shaped the final text, not just the committee's claims.
Sources (2): newindianexpress.com, livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
