MP Cabinet Approves Uniform Civil Code Draft Bill
Public Lokpal
July 19, 2026
MP Cabinet Approves Uniform Civil Code Draft Bill
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet has approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, introducing sweeping legal reforms across the state.
Framed by a committee led by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, the bill strictly prohibits polygamy and practices like nikah halala, mandating that all divorces proceed through legal courts.
A major highlight is the mandatory registration of live-in relationships within a month of cohabitation; non-compliance faces up to three months in jail, while married individuals entering live-in setups face up to five years.
The bill protects women and children by granting inheritance rights to offspring and allowing abandoned partners to claim maintenance. Furthermore, it ensures equal property inheritance for daughters.
To preserve indigenous culture, all Scheduled Tribes (STs) are entirely exempted. The draft was cleared following feedback from over 9.58 lakh public suggestions.