Uttarakhand will become the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on January 27, 2025. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that all necessary preparations for the law’s enforcement, including the approval of regulations and training of officials, have been completed.
Dhami said,”UCC is just an offering made by our state in the great ‘yagya’ being performed by the Prime Minister to make the country a developed, organised, harmonious and self-reliant nation.”
The UCC aims to standardize personal laws across all religions, ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. Key provisions include setting an equal marriageable age for men and women, establishing common grounds for divorce, banning polygamy and ‘halala,’ and mandating the registration of all marriages and live-in relationships. The law also ensures gender parity by treating all children as legitimate, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.
The UCC was a significant promise made by the BJP during the 2022 assembly elections. The BJP’s victory in securing a second consecutive term in Uttarakhand was partly attributed to its stance on the UCC.
Following the election, CM Dhami quickly set up an expert committee to draft the law, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai. The committee consulted various sections of the population and submitted its draft in early 2024. The state assembly passed the legislation shortly afterward, and it received presidential assent by the end of the year.
An expert panel, led by former Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh, then framed the rules for implementation, which were approved by the state cabinet. A special provision has also been introduced for defense personnel, allowing them to create a “privileged will” in certain circumstances, such as during active military service.
The UCC’s implementation coincides with the silver jubilee of Uttarakhand’s statehood in 2025. The state government is positioning the UCC as a major achievement, with CM Dhami expressing confidence that it will serve as a model for other states, particularly those ruled by the BJP, to adopt.
(With PTI Inputs)