Uttarakhand Eases Live-in Relationship Rules, Adds Flexibility Under Uniform Civil Code

Dehradun, October 18, 2025: The Uttarakhand government has submitted a 78-page affidavit to the High Court outlining key amendments to the state’s live-in relationship regulations under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), introducing greater “flexibility” and safeguards for citizens.

Filed on October 15 before a division bench comprising Chief Justice G. Narendra and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, the affidavit—presented by Advocate General S.N. Babulkar—details several procedural and privacy-related modifications to the existing framework.

According to the document, Rule 380 of the Registrar’s Office has been amended to specify conditions where a live-in relationship cannot be registered. These include cases where partners are related within prohibited degrees, if one or both individuals are already married or in another cohabiting relationship, or if either partner is a minor.

Key Changes in the Rules
The revised provisions primarily focus on streamlining registration and termination procedures, clarifying the handling of information shared with police authorities, and extending the appeal period for rejected applications.

Under the new framework, data sharing between the registrar and local police will now be restricted solely to “record-keeping purposes,” limiting the scope of disclosure and protecting individual privacy.

The affidavit further proposes easing documentation requirements by allowing alternatives to Aadhaar as proof of identity during registration or declaration. This change is aimed at assisting applicants who may not possess Aadhaar, particularly those who are not the primary applicants in the process.

Additionally, the time limit for challenging a registrar’s decision to reject a cohabitation declaration will be extended from 30 days to 45 days from the date of receipt of the order.

Uttarakhand became the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code in January 2025. The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government has maintained that the UCC ensures uniformity in civil laws governing marriage, inheritance, and maintenance across all religions.

As per the current UCC framework, all live-in relationships in the state must be registered with the local registrar, who is required to notify the parents of both individuals. Chief Minister Dhami has also clarified that children born through live-in relationships will enjoy equal property rights, reinforcing the UCC’s inclusive intent.