A panel framing rules for Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code is trying to ensure that data provided by live-in couples remains protected but feels that information about those aged between 18 and 21 should be given to their parents for safety reasons, the committee’s chief said on Friday.
The UCC, which requires registering live-in relationships and marriages, was approved by the Uttarakhand Assembly in February.
On Friday, the expert committee’s report was posted on their website http://www.ucc.uk.gov.in. The committee’s chairman, Shatrughna Singh, explained that they couldn’t release the report earlier due to the election rules in place.
Couple privacy protections under the UCC
The panel responsible for creating rules for the implementation of the UCC will guarantee that individuals’ privacy is protected regarding the data they provide when registering their marriages and live-in relationships, Singh stated at a press conference.
When asked if the requirement to inform parents about a live-in couple aged 18 to 21 would infringe on their privacy, Singh, a former chief secretary of Uttarakhand, acknowledged that it is a topic open to debate.
Progress on the implementation of the UCC
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 7, became law after receiving President Droupadi Murmu’s assent on March 11, making Uttarakhand the first state in India to adopt the UCC since Independence.
Singh noted that the rules-making and implementation committee for the UCC is making significant progress. “The coding of rules is underway and is expected to be completed soon.”
When asked about Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s recent statement that the UCC will be implemented by October, Singh affirmed that the panel is working diligently to meet that timeline.
Shortly after the UCC Bill’s passage in February, a nine-member committee led by Singh was established to develop the implementation rules.