MP assembly passes Uniform Civil Code Bill amid uproar

The Madhya Pradesh legislative assembly on Tuesday passed the 'Madhya Pradesh Uniform Civil Code 2026 Bill' by voice vote amid a noisy protest by the opposition Congress. Among other things, the bill bans polygamy and makes the registration of live-in relationships mandatory while excluding the tribal community from its scope. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in his speech in the House tore into the Congress for opposing the bill, and noted that Madhya Pradesh will be the fourth state in the country to implement the UCC after Goa, Assam, and Uttarakhand.

मध्यप्रदेश विधानसभा द्वारा समान नागरिक संहिता विधेयक का पारित होना प्रदेश के लिए एक ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धि है। यह निर्णय सुशासन, सामाजिक न्याय, समानता और महिला सशक्तिकरण की दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है।

डॉ. मोहन यादव, मुख्यमंत्री, मध्यप्रदेश@DrMohanYadav51 #UCC pic.twitter.com/yl5oJhDFzY

— Law & Legislative Affairs Department, MP (@minlaw5) July 21, 2026

During the session, Congress MLAs demanded that the bill be referred to a select committee, but the government rejected the proposal. In protest, opposition MLAs stormed the well of the House and raised slogans, forcing the proceedings to be adjourned twice. Despite the disruption, the bill was passed by majority. Under the key provisions of UCC, more than one marriage will not be valid in the state. Divorce will have to follow a legal process. Women and men will get equal inheritance rights. Registration of live-in relationships will be mandatory within one month. Marriage registration will be compulsory up to the village level. Tribal communities have been kept outside the scope of this.