Madhya Pradesh Assembly Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill Amid Opposition Protest
The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026, amidst protests by Congress members who demanded it be sent to a select committee for further scrutiny.
The Bill, introduced on Monday, was passed via voice vote on the second day of the Assembly's Monsoon Session. Congress MLAs raised slogans over issues such as paper leaks and alleged donation theft at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, leading to brief adjournments.
The legislation criminalises polygamy and nikah halala, and makes registration of live-in relationships mandatory. Scheduled Tribe communities have been exempted from the Bill to protect their cultural heritage.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticised the Congress for opposing the Bill, accusing the party of trying to appease the Muslim community. He also called the Congress 'anti-tribal' for its stance. Yadav invoked B.R. Ambedkar, urging Congress members to support the UCC, and referenced the abolition of triple talaq by the central government.
Congress MLAs Arif Masood and Atif Aqeel opposed the Bill, stating it violates fundamental rights related to culture and education. Masood called the Bill unconstitutional and alleged it was intended to target the Muslim community. They demanded the Speaker refer the Bill to a select committee.
The Bill was prepared by a six-member expert committee chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai and received cabinet approval on Sunday at a meeting in Jagdishpur, near Bhopal.
