Uttarakhand To Amend Civil Code Rules: How It Affects Live-In Couples

Last Updated:October 18, 2025, 21:20 IST

One of the key proposed amendments seeks to limit the scope of data sharing between the registrar and the local police.

News18

The Uttarakhand government has informed the High Court that certain provisions under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) rules are being modified to bring more clarity and flexibility to the law.

In a 78-page affidavit filed on October 15, Advocate General S.N. Babulkar submitted the details before a division bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay. The affidavit explained that the proposed amendments mainly relate to Rule 380 of the Registrar’s Office, which outlines the conditions under which a live-in relationship cannot be registered.

According to the state’s submission, a live-in relationship will not be eligible for registration in cases where:

• The partners are related to each other within a prohibited degree,
• Either or both individuals are already married or involved in another cohabiting relationship, or
• One of the partners is a minor.

The affidavit stated that the proposed changes are aimed at streamlining the process of registering and terminating live-in relationships while ensuring transparency and efficiency in how information is shared with the police. It also focuses on improving the appeal mechanism for individuals whose applications for registration are rejected.

One of the key proposed amendments seeks to limit the scope of data sharing between the registrar and the local police. The affidavit clarified that this exchange of information would now be done only for record-keeping purposes, to ensure privacy and prevent unnecessary disclosure of personal details.

Another important change concerns the mandatory use of Aadhaar as proof of identity in various UCC-related registration and declaration procedures. The government has now proposed to introduce flexibility in this rule by allowing the use of alternative identification documents if the applicant cannot provide Aadhaar—particularly in cases where the person is not the primary applicant.

Additionally, the state has proposed to extend the appeal period for applicants whose declarations of cohabitation are rejected. Under the new provision, the time limit to challenge the registrar’s decision will increase from 30 days to 45 days from the date of receiving the rejection order.

The affidavit emphasised that these amendments are designed to make the law more practical and inclusive while maintaining the objectives of the Uniform Civil Code.

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