By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
DEHRADUN, 27 Jan: Uttarakhand is set to create history by becoming the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on January 27. Sources claimed that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will officially launch the UCC portal at 12:30 pm on the same day. Prior to the launch, two mock drills of the UCC portal have been successfully conducted to ensure a smooth rollout.
The Chief Minister who returned to Dehradun on Saturday, after campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections, confirmed that all arrangements for the UCC are in place. He indicated that the implementation of the UCC will take place within the next few days.
It may be recalled that Dhami had for the first time announced intention to implement the UCC in February 2022 and after the 2022 Assembly election, a committee headed by retired Judge, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai was set up to draft the UCC. This committee also had former Chief Secretary Shatrughna Singh and Vice Chancellor of Doon University, Surekha Dangwal and social activist Manu Gaur as members.
Meanwhile, the government has finalised the framework, trained officials, and established the UCC portal to facilitate the process. The comprehensive implementation plan reflects the state’s commitment to uniform laws across all communities.
Key Features of Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code include a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, alimony, and inheritance across all religions and communities. Couples would now be mandatorily required under the law to register their marriage and divorces that have taken place after March 26, 2010. Registration facilities will be available at Gram Panchayat, Nagar Panchayat, Municipality, and Municipal Corporation levels.
Failure to register will attract a fine of up to Rs 25,000, and defaulters will lose access to government benefits. The legal minimum age for marriage will be 21 for men and 18 for women across all the communities. Women will have equal rights to divorce on the same grounds as men. Practices like halala and iddat, prevalent in the Muslim society will be banned, and conditions restricting a woman’s right to remarry will be prohibited. Bigamy will be strictly prohibited. In cases of divorce or domestic disputes, custody of children under five years of age will remain with the mother.
The UCC also has granted equal rights to property to the sons and as well as the daughters. Legitimate and illegitimate children will be treated equally as biological children of their parents. Children born through adoption, surrogacy, or assisted reproductive technology will have full rights as biological children. Unborn children will also have protected property rights. Live-in couples must register their relationship on the UCC portal. Children born in live-in relationships will have the same rights as biological children. Divorce in live-in relationships must also be registered. Couples can rent houses or hostels only with a valid registration receipt. Failure to register will result in a fine of Rs 25,000 or six months’ imprisonment.
This move comes after extensive consultations and preparations over the past one year. According to the BJP, the UCC aims to promote equality and uniformity in civil laws, transcending religious and community-based distinctions. With Uttarakhand leading the way, the implementation of the UCC could set a precedent for other states.
