The Uttarakhand government has introduced amendments to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), bringing stricter rules and punishments. Under the new provisions, couples will now have up to one year to register their marriages, extended from the earlier six months. Delays beyond the deadline will attract penalties or fines. The amendments also clarify procedures for appeals, fees, and correct clerical errors in the law.
One of the major changes includes harsher punishment for deceitful or coercive relationships. As per the amended Section 387, any individual who forces or deceives someone into a live-in relationship can face up to seven years in prison along with a fine. Similarly, under Section 380(2), a married person entering into a live-in relationship by fraud will face the same punishment. However, the law provides exceptions for individuals whose partners have been missing for seven years or more, or for those who have legally ended their previous marriages.
The amendment also aligns with the new Indian legal framework, replacing references to the CrPC with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). These changes aim to resolve practical difficulties observed during the implementation of the UCC since March 2020.
