Madhya Pradesh Assembly Introduces Uniform Civil Code Bill Amid Opposition Protests

Introduction of the Uniform Civil Code Bill

On Monday, the Madhya Pradesh government presented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill-2026 during the first day of the monsoon session in the assembly. This proposed legislation aims to impose a complete ban on polygamy and mandates the registration of marriages and divorces across all religions.

Before the bill was introduced, the opposition party, Congress, created a significant uproar in the assembly regarding alleged land deals involving Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, demanding a discussion on the matter.

Opposition's Concerns and Protests

As the assembly proceedings commenced, Leader of the Opposition Umang Singh raised the issue of alleged large-scale land acquisitions by the Chief Minister and his family through a suspension motion. Citing a media report, Congress called for an investigation into these transactions in Ujjain and the Singhast region. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya from the ruling party opposed this, stating that the matter was outdated and not suitable for a suspension motion.

Assembly Proceedings Disrupted

Due to the uproar and chanting from the opposition, the assembly was adjourned for 30 minutes. Later, Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar dismissed the suspension motion, asserting that the topic was not of immediate significance. He clarified that suspension motions are typically reserved for issues related to current events and law and order. In protest, Congress members walked out of the assembly, accusing the government of evading accountability.

Criticism of the UCC Bill

Umang Singh accused the BJP government of hastily introducing the UCC Bill for communal polarization while remaining silent on the rights of OBCs and backward classes. Congress MLA Arif Masood also expressed objections, stating that the UCC Bill was presented without being included in the agenda. The Assembly Speaker announced that a detailed discussion on the bill would take place on Tuesday.

Key Provisions of the Proposed UCC Bill

The draft of the proposed UCC Bill-2026 includes several significant changes. It seeks to criminalize practices such as triple talaq and nikah halala, impose a ban on polygamy, and stipulate a three-month imprisonment for failing to register live-in relationships within a month. Additionally, the bill proposes to grant equal legal and inheritance rights to children born through surrogacy, adoption, and assisted reproductive technology (ART), although it excludes Scheduled Tribes from its purview.