DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand high court has directed the state govt to respond to a petition challenging the registration format for live-in relationships under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which seeks details of past relationships, including information about divorcees and widows. The next hearing is scheduled for Friday.
The bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Ashish Naithani heard the petition filed by a man from Ranikhet, originally from Mumbai, who resides in the state as a tenant. The counsel representing the live-in couple — an IIT Bombay alumnus and a fashion designer — argued that the registration form under UCC requires them to provide details about past events, including marital history, which they claim is unfair.
“The form asks for unnecessary details about divorcees, widows, etc. This is not required for live-in registration,” the couple’s counsel said, adding that only documents related to residence, date of birth, Aadhaar, and tenancy should be necessary.
Under UCC, implemented in Uttarakhand on Jan 27, live-in relationships must be registered within a month of commencement. Failure to do so could result in penalties, including imprisonment for up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 25,000. The law has sparked debates over privacy, with concerns that registrars have the authority to summon partners and record statements, raising fears of intrusion.
