New Delhi, India

An official panel responsible for drafting rules for northern India's Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is striving to protect the privacy of data provided by live-in couples. But at the same time, the committee chief suggested that information about live-in couples aged 18 to 21 should be shared with their parents.

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The UCC, approved by the Uttarakhand Assembly in February, mandates the registration of live-in relationships and marriages. On Friday (Jul 12), the report by the expert committee tasked with drafting the UCC, led by Justice (retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai, was made available on an official website.

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Formed on May 27, 2022, the five-member panel led by retired Justice Desai gathered suggestions from 2.33 lakh individuals through 43 public dialogue programs and various other means. The committee submitted its report on February 2 this year.

Also read | India: Uttarakhand Assembly passes historic Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill

Shatrughna Singh, chairman of the UCC rules-making and implementation committee and a member of the Justice Desai panel, explained that the report could not be released earlier due to the enforcement of the model code of conduct in the wake of Lok Sabha polls in the summer.

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At a press conference, Singh assured that the panel would ensure the privacy of data provided during the registration of marriages and live-in relationships.

But when questioned about the potential privacy concerns of informing parents about live-in couples aged 18 to 21, Singh, a former chief secretary of Uttarakhand, acknowledged that the issue was debatable.

"Data of live-in couples above 21 years of age will be totally protected. But, for couples aged between 18 and 21 years, the committee was of the view that the age (despite the fact that they have voting rights) is tender and so the parents should also be kept in the loop by way of precaution for the safety of the couple," he said.

The UCC Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 7, became law with President Droupadi Murmu's assent on March 11. Uttarakhand is the first state in India post-independence to adopt such a law.

The Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act, 2024, aims to regulate laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, live-in relationships, inheritance, and maintenance for all citizens, regardless of religion, gender, caste, or sex. But it excludes Scheduled Tribes from its jurisdiction.

(With inputs from agencies)