Tue Feb 18 16:36:47 UTC 2025: ## Uttarakhand High Court Questions Privacy Claim in UCC Live-in Challenge
**Dehradun, India** – The Uttarakhand High Court sharply criticized a 23-year-old man’s challenge to the state’s new Uniform Civil Code (UCC), questioning the validity of his privacy concerns regarding the mandatory registration of live-in relationships.
Jai Tripathi argued that the UCC’s provision for registering live-in relationships violated his personal liberty and privacy, essentially institutionalizing gossip. However, the court, comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mahra, retorted, “What is the secret? Both of you are living together; your neighbour knows, society knows, and the world knows. Then where is the secrecy you are talking about?”
The court clarified that the state isn’t prohibiting live-in relationships but simply requiring their registration. They urged Tripathi to provide specific evidence of privacy violation rather than making general claims.
Uttarakhand’s UCC, implemented on January 27th, mandates the registration of live-in relationships, requiring parental consent for those under 21. The law applies to Uttarakhand residents regardless of where the relationship is based. Failure to register or providing false information carries penalties of up to three months imprisonment and/or a Rs 25,000 fine. Even a one-month delay results in a potential three-month prison sentence and/or a Rs 10,000 fine.
The UCC also grants children born from live-in relationships equal inheritance rights and legal recognition. An online portal facilitates the registration of marriages, divorces, inheritance, and live-in relationships.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami previously described the UCC as a contribution to the nation’s development and harmony. The court’s questioning of Tripathi’s petition highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the balance between individual rights and the state’s regulatory power under the new code.
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