Uttarakhand govt is now ‘Mummy-Daddy’ state. Live-in is the new marriage

The BJP government's Uniform Civil Code Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand assembly, arms an already judgemental society with more weapons to make life difficult for a couple seeking to live together.

Illustration by Prajna Ghosh | ThePrint

The Uttarakhand government has come up with a ‘Marriage Lite’ solution for people in live-in relationships. Its Uniform Civil Code, or UCC, Bill defies the very concept of live-in, and has landed men in a tricky situation. They will think twice before breaking up. Because if they do, their partner can claim ‘maintenance’ from them.

One of the reasons couples often choose to live together is to avoid the messy legal entanglements that come with marriage. Uttarakhand’s UCC Bill changes this—not only does it involve more paperwork, but it’s also likely to make the decision to live together costly.

By bringing provisions such as requiring couples to register their live-in relationships or men to pay “maintenance” in the event of a break up, the Uttarakhand government wants to blur the lines between the two kinds of relationships. It’s forcing young men and women to get married in haste and make wrong choices. With all the legal red tape involved, couple’s may as well just get married.

What’s more, no Indian parent is going to let their child register for a live-in relationship. And it arms an already judgemental society with more weapons to make life difficult for a couple exploring the idea of simply living together.

The moment a couple decides to cohabitate, the primary challenge they face is finding a rented accommodation. Hardly any landlord lets a couple cohabitate without marriage. Even single women find it hard to get a rented accommodation for themselves because the landlord is always suspicious that she will invite “boys” into the house. “Boys”, on the other hand, are given accommodation on the express condition that “no girls will be allowed”.

Now, landlords will have more ammunition in their sleeves.

And what if the man and the woman come from different backgrounds. If a Hindu -Muslim couple wants to live together, ‘well-meaning’ landlords may take it upon themselves to call the police. Or what if it’s an inter-caste couple?

The younger generation has accepted live-in relationships, but not the government. Now that the Bill has been passed, it will be used as a tool for harassment—not only by landlords, but also neighbours, RWAs, and police.

The Bill has become a polarising issue, with some supporting it while others questioning why the government wants to wade into live-in relationships but refuses to acknowledge marital rape.

“Register live-in relationships with the state. Next, register Tinder dates. Don’t forget to register friendships with the opposite gender,” wrote another user.

Do you have NOC?

As if having a family wasn’t enough to control, now the government has also become “Mummy and Daddy.”

And the registrar is the Big Brother. Couples planning to cohabit have to “mandatorily” register their relationship with the registrar, who will forward the records to the police station. And if the couple doesn’t register within a month, they might land in jail for up to three months.

If any of the parties in the relationship are under 21, they have to inform their parents or guardians. What are the chances that parents would allow it?

Once the registration process is done, the next in line waiting for his turn to impose his will is the nosy landlord? He would probably ask for that registration certificate before letting the couple inside his rented accommodation (if only he does let you rent). Why would he invite problems from the government onto himself?

But if a couple decides to mutually end the relationship, they can’t until they give a “statement of termination” to the registrar and go through the same mental and maybe financial trauma of seeking a divorce in a marriage.

And what about those who want to cohabitate without being in a romantic relationship. How will the Uttarakhand government separate one from another?

A piece of advice: Make the registrar your best friend.

Views are personal.

(Edited by Prashant)