Uttarakhand is set to become the first state in India to adopt the UCC, as announced by its Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Republic Day 2024. The state government has formed a five-member committee of experts, headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to examine the relevant laws regulating personal civil matters of residents of Uttarakhand and to prepare draft law/laws or suggest changes in existing laws on the subject that includes marriage, divorce, property rights, succession/inheritance, adoption, maintenance, custody and guardianship. The committee has also been tasked to prepare a report on implementing a UCC in Uttarakhand.
UCC stands for Uniform Civil Code, which is a proposal to replace the personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set of laws governing every citizen. The UCC is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Indian Constitution, which means that the state should strive to achieve it, but it is not legally binding.
The committee has conducted extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-government organizations, social groups and communities, religious bodies and political parties, and received over 60,000 suggestions from the public online.
CM of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote on X “Moving forward in the direction of implementing the Uniform Civil Code as per the resolution placed before the godlike people of Uttarakhand, the draft was received today from the committee formed for the purpose of preparing the UCC draft in Dehradun.
A Uniform Civil Code bill will be introduced in the upcoming assembly session and will be implemented as a law as soon as possible.
We have always been determined to provide equal rights to everyone in the state by realizing the vision of respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra modi ji “Ek Bharat-Shrestha Bharat” and today we are taking this resolution towards accomplishment through UCC. The state assembly will convene on February 5, 2024, to pass the UCC bill .
The UCC bill is expected to introduce some major changes in the personal laws of different communities in Uttarakhand, such as:
– Ensuring gender equality and equal rights for daughters in ancestral properties.
– Abolishing practices such as triple talaq, polygamy and child marriage.
– Simplifying procedures for inter-faith and inter-caste marriages.
– Providing uniform grounds for divorce and maintenance.
– Harmonizing laws on adoption, custody and guardianship.
A user on X wrote Uttarakhand, led by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, is preparing to implement a Uniform Civil Code, it paves the way for a legal framework that prioritizes equality and fairness, setting the stage for a brighter future. Waiting for it in whole of India. CM Dhami is receiving praise on social media, another user wrote “Congratulations to the Dhami government for their progressive stance in bringing about the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, setting a positive precedent for other states to follow.”
Another user wrote Exciting Times for Uttarakhand as it embraces a Uniform Civil Code, reinforcing a commitment to a legal framework that fosters inclusivity and social harmony. Some another person wrote This is absolutely a right time when we all need to take a look at this now here so just don’t ignore this now here guys.
The UCC bill is likely to face opposition from some sections of society who may perceive it as an infringement on their religious freedom and identity. However, the state government has maintained that the UCC is not aimed at imposing any particular religion or culture on anyone, but rather at ensuring justice and dignity for all citizens. The government has also assured that the UCC will respect the diversity and pluralism of Uttarakhand and will not affect the religious rituals and ceremonies of any community.
