UCC draft committee member Dr. Surekha Dangwal clarified that registration of live-in relationships is not needed if both or either partner is a tribal. Tribal communities in Uttarakhand like Tharu, Buksa, Jaunsari, Bhotiyas, and Rajis are exempt from the UCC.
Uttarakhand Government to address queries related to UCC
In an attempt to clear confusion about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) among people, the Uttarakhand government will send officials to different places for sharing information and addressing queries related to the Act.
Compulsory registration of Live-in relationships
The topic in the UCC that has come under discussion the most is the registration of live-in relationships. The government rolled out UCC rules for regulating live-in relationships on January 27. Under these rules, it is compulsory for couples to register live-in relationships. Tribals have already been kept outside the purview of the UCC, so if they are in live-in relationships, registration is not mandatory for them.
Exemption for ST community members in Live-in relationships
According to Dr. Surekha Dangwal, a member of the UCC draft committee, if one partner in a live-in relationship belongs to the tribal community and the other is a non-tribal, the couple need not register. However, if any such couple wishes to get registered, they can do so. “Tribal couples who are in live-in relationships are exempt from mandatory registration. The same rule applies even if only one partner is a tribal. If such a couple, living in Dehradun or Vikasnagar or any other area of the state, does not get registered, no action will be taken against them,” Dr. Dangwal explained.
Confidentiality of information
Dr. Dangwal further said that if a person from the tribal community is in a live-in relationship with someone outside the state, they do not need to get registered. However, if such couples get registered voluntarily, it will be beneficial because registering their relationship will ensure many things in their favor, Dr. Dangwal said.
“We have already clarified that information will be kept completely confidential, and a system has been devised in this direction,” Dr. Dangwal added.
