Uttarakhand To Introduce Uniform Civil Code Bill Today: All You Need To Know
The Uttarakhand Assembly is set to present legislation on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state Assembly today. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, leading this initiative, stated on Monday that the proposed UCC will not only benefit all sections of society but also align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas’ (Together with all, development for all) and ‘Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat’ (One India, Great India).
A committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, has prepared a comprehensive four-volume, 749-page report with numerous recommendations. The committee collected over 2.33 lakh pieces of written feedback online and conducted more than 70 public forums. During these forums, panel members engaged with approximately 60,000 individuals to assist in the development of the draft.
Among the proposals in the UCC are the prohibition of polygamy and child marriage, a standardized minimum age for girls to marry across all religions, and a uniform process for divorce. These recommendations, aimed at promoting gender equality and social harmony, will be deliberated upon during the special four-day assembly session, which began yesterday and will continue until Thursday.
The UCC draft covers various aspects of civil life, including inheritance rights, mandatory marriage registration, and an increased minimum age for girls to marry, allowing them to pursue education before marriage. Couples who fail to register their marriages will be ineligible for government facilities, highlighting the importance of legal documentation.
While specific details of the draft have not been made public, reports suggest that it will establish a legal framework encompassing marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance laws, regardless of religious affiliations. If enacted, Uttarakhand will become the first state in post-Independence India to adopt the UCC, following in the footsteps of Goa, where it has been in operation since the Portuguese rule.
The proposed UCC for Uttarakhand goes beyond religious boundaries, granting adoption rights to all, including Muslim women. It aims to ban practices such as halala and iddat (Islamic practices a woman must go through after divorce or the death of her husband), promote the recognition of live-in relationships, and simplify adoption procedures.
Once the proposed UCC is implemented, live-in relationships will need to be registered under the law. Legal experts argue that registering such relationships would benefit both men and women.
The draft excludes population control measures and the Scheduled Tribes, who constitute 3% of Uttarakhand’s population.
Other significant features of the UCC include equal property rights for sons and daughters, elimination of distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate children, and equal treatment for adopted and biological children. In the event of a person’s death, the proposed UCC ensures equal property rights for the spouse, children, and parents, departing from previous laws that imposed limitations.
This move towards a Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand marks a significant step towards achieving social equality and justice in the state.
The Uttarakhand government is set to discuss and deliberate on the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) today. The UCC aims to bring uniformity in personal laws, irrespective of religious affiliations, and promote gender equality. The proposed bill seeks to replace existing personal laws with a comprehensive code that covers matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. If passed, Uttarakhand would become the first state in India to implement a UCC. The move has sparked both support and opposition, with proponents emphasizing the need for equal rights and opponents expressing concerns about potential infringement on religious freedom. The outcome of this significant legislative session will determine the future direction of personal laws in the state.
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