Guwahati

Assam is all set to become the fourth state in India to implement same law for all citizens in personal matters. Goa, Uttarakand and Gujarat have already implemented Uniform Civil Code law.

The freshly sworn-in Assam government approved the introduction of the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state in the first cabinet meeting of its second term.

However, the tribal people will be excluded from its scope, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma said. The bill will be introduced in the Assembly on May

The Chief Minister announced the holding of the Assam Assembly sessions on May 21-22 and May 25-26 at a press conference here after presiding over the first Cabinet meeting of his second term as Head of Government.

He said the UCC bill will be introduced in the new Assembly on May The Chief Minister said the newly elected MLAs will be sworn in at the session. 

"This is a very important decision taken at the first Cabinet meeting and is fully in line with the promises we made to the people during the elections," he said.

Sharma also mentioned that UCC has already been implemented in Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat, but his government has developed it on its own keeping in mind the needs of Assam.

"We have completely exempted the tribal people from the scope of the UCC. All forms of worship, traditions and customs practiced by the people of Assam have been excluded from the scope of the UCC," the Chief Minister told a press conference.

The UCC will mainly cover issues of inheritance (property rights), marriage, live-in relationships (living together without getting married) and compulsory registration of marriages and divorces, the CM said.

Meanwhile, the Assam Cabinet has taken several expenditure cutting measures in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for fuel conservation amid the current crisis in West Asia.

"The Assam Cabinet discussed in detail the Prime Minister's call for foreign exchange saving and made some recommendations," the Chief Minister told a press conference.

As part of the expenditure cuts, the state government has decided to reduce the convoys of the Governor, Chief Minister, Ministers and other officials.

He added that it has also been decided that no government officials will be allowed to travel abroad for official or private trips for the next six months except in medical emergencies.

The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday approved the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, but the tribal population will be kept outside its purview, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The UCC Bill will be laid before the new legislative assembly on May 26, the chief minister said at a press conference here after chairing the first cabinet meeting of his second term as the head of the government.

"This is a major decision taken in the first cabinet meeting and aligns with the commitment we made during the elections," he said.

Sarma said Uttarakhand, Goa and Gujarat have already implemented the UCC, but his government has customised it for the requirements of Assam.

''We have completely exempted the tribal population from the purview of UCC. All rituals, traditions and customs practised by the people of Assam outside the scope of UCC,'' he said.

 The UCC will deal with succession, marriage, live-in relationships and compulsory registration of marriage and divorce, he added.