First live-in registered in Uttarakhand under UCC, five other applications being analysed

Bajrang Dal leader Vikas Verma, however, claimed they are aware of the details and are checking for interfaith couples among the registrants. “We have come across a case in Haridwar where the couple are from different religions. We are constantly on the lookout for dangerous cases,” he claimed.

However, Bagoli maintained it is impossible for any third party to get such details.

The Uttarakhand government had on January 27 rolled out the UCC Rules for regulating live-in relationships. The registration requires the couple to fill a 16-page form and obtain a certificate from a religious leader showing they are eligible to marry if they so choose.

The Uttarakhand UCC makes it compulsory to register all live-in relationships. This applies to Uttarakhand residents living in the state and also those living elsewhere in India.

In the UCC rules, registration is only for the “purposes of record keeping” and requires the Registrar to forward these registrations to the local police stations where the couple reside.

Civil society members have flagged concerns regarding infringement of privacy. Mallika Virdi of Mahila Manch said there are apprehensions surrounding women’s safety due to mandates under UCC, which was brought into effect in the name of protection of women.

“The Supreme Court has guaranteed that privacy is an inalienable right unless there is violence when the state can come in. The UCC gives power to anyone, including your neighbour, to complain (against live-in couples). What is protection if a woman cannot exercise her agency while a section of the society decides what is public morality,” she said.

Meanwhile, representatives from parties such as the CPIM, CPIML and Samajwadi Party have announced a public awareness campaign against the UCC and said that a state-level convention would be organised in Dehradun next month.