Rajasthan UCC Bill 2026: Polygamy ban, ₹25,000 fine for delayed registration

The Rajasthan Cabinet approved a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on August 13, making it the fifth state to draft such legislation. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's government will introduce the bill in the upcoming Assembly session.

The bill proposes mandatory marriage registration within 60 days, a ban on polygamy, and fines for non-compliance. Failure to register a marriage within the deadline will result in a fine of up to ₹10,000. Failure to register even after receiving a notice will draw a fine of up to ₹25,000, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel said in a press statement.

Registrars who deliberately delay or neglect the registration process face a similar ₹25,000 penalty imposed by the Registrar General.

Patel said the draft was prepared based on recommendations from an expert committee chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. The committee studied similar laws in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Assam before submitting its report to the state government.

The bill will not apply to Scheduled Tribes, who have constitutionally protected customary rights, Patel said.

Live-in relationship registration

The bill requires written intimation or registration of the commencement and termination of live-in relationships. Patel said this provision aims to protect the rights of both parties.

Marriage validity and registration

A marriage will not be considered invalid even if registration is delayed or omitted. Patel clarified that all religions and communities retain full freedom to solemnize marriages according to their own customs. Registration remains mandatory regardless of the ceremony.