'Purpose Is Different, Don't Want Personal Info': State Govt To Uttarakhand HC On Plea Against UCC Form Asking Live-In Couples' Private Details

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State Government and the Union Government, appeared before a bench of Chief Justice G. Narendar and Justice Ashish Naithani and sought time to file a reply in the matter to suggest something that can satisfy the court and the petitioner.

“I will look into (the concerns) and will file an affidavit showing relevance (of seeking such details) and see what can be done…I'll suggest something…the purpose is different; we don't want any personal or private details to be recorded. I will ensure that it happens to your lorships' judicial satisfaction. Mr. Ramchandran may not worry, I am before the Court...When I say I am before the Court, it has a meaning,” SG Mehta submitted orally.

He was responding to a petition filed by Samarth Aniruddha Bhagwat through Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran along with Advocate Shahrukh Alam challenging the provision of mandatory registration of Live-In relations under the UCC, including Form 3 in the UCC rules, which seeks information on previous relationships of the registrants (live-in couples).

By necessary implication, the plea also challenges the stipulations like providing the Aadhar cards containing the complete details, including address.

Appearing before the HC on Tuesday (February 18), Senior Counsel Ramachandran submitted that Form 3 seeks voluminous information, including details of previous live-in partners, the decree of divorce, etc.

“The relevancy of the said information must be gone into. The Form also provides for stipulations like providing the Aadhar cards, containing the com plete details, including address. If that be so, the relevancy of the other information needs to be looked into as the Aadhaar card possesses all information, including biometrics,” the High Court had recorded Ramchandran's arguement.

Considering the submissions of the petitioner's counsel, the bench had called for the instructions in the matter. Pursuant to the Court's directions, SG Mehta appeared before the Court today.

The division bench also issued a notice in another plea filed by Razia Baig and others through Senior Advocate MR Shamshad challenging the UCC inter alia on the grounds of being against the Sharia Law. The court also issued a notice in this matter and tagged the matter along with other matters challenging the UCC.

The matter will now come up for a hearing next on April 1.