Legal rights to LGBTQ couples in UCC unlikely

Panel says same-sex marriage not part of institution of marriage, live-in couples have rights under domestic violence act

- PREETHA NAIR

UTTARAKHAND’S draft bill on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) may not consider giving legal rights to LGBTQ and live-in couples, according to a member of the expert committee looking into the implementation of UCC in the state.

Other key recommendations of the panel include raising the marriageable age of women to 21 years, inheritance rights for Muslim women, a ban on polygamy and polyandry, and reforming marriage practices such as ‘nikah halala’.

Contesting reports that the committee has proposed population control policies such as the two-child norm, the member said that it doesn’t fall in its ambit. “There is no proposal on population control measures,” the member said.

The UCC panel led by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai will submit its report in one or two months. “Gender equality is the soul of our draft law. Our key suggestion is to protect women and children. Certain personal laws are inhuman, undermining the dignity of women,” said the member.