The Uttarakhand government has submitted a comprehensive 78-page affidavit to the High Court, indicating that several provisions within the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) rules are slated for amendment. This significant development was conveyed by Advocate General S.N. Babulkar to a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, on October 15.
The proposed amendments primarily focus on Rule 380 of the Registrar’s Office, which currently outlines the conditions under which a live-in relationship cannot be officially registered. These conditions encompass scenarios such as couples being within prohibited degrees of relationship, one or both partners already being legally married or involved in another cohabiting relationship, or either individual being a minor.
The affidavit emphasizes that the forthcoming changes are designed to enhance the efficiency and clarity of the processes for both registering and terminating cohabiting relationships. A key objective is to provide greater precision regarding how information is shared with law enforcement agencies and to extend the permissible period for appealing rejected applications.
Specifically, the amended provisions seek to limit the scope of data exchange between the registrar and local police, explicitly stating that such sharing is intended solely for “record-keeping purposes.” This aims to ensure privacy and prevent misuse of personal information.
Further changes outlined in the amendments pertain to the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar as a primary form of identification during various registration and declaration procedures. These adjustments are intended to introduce much-needed “flexibility” into the system. This means that alternative identification documents will be accepted in situations where applicants cannot provide Aadhaar, particularly if they are not the primary applicant.
Finally, the affidavit proposes an extension to the time frame available for applicants to challenge a registrar’s decision to reject a declaration of cohabitation. This period will be increased from the current 30 days to 45 days, effective from the date the rejection order is received.