India, May 27 -- The Assam assembly on Wednesday passed the contentious Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation amid support from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies, and opposition from Congress and others not part of the government.

The Bill, the third such legislation after similar laws were passed in Uttarakhand and Gujarat, aims to govern and regulate laws relating to marriage and divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. The Assam legislation excludes scheduled tribes (STs), who comprise 12.45% of the population (2011 census).

Legislators from the ruling parties stressed that the law will empower and honour women, but opposition parties stated that it was unnecessary, introduced without wide consultations, and not ...