By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 30 Jan: The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been implemented in the state. Meanwhile, some media reports have raised concerns that a religious certificate from clergy members will be required for live-in relationship registration. However, UCC Rules Committee member Manu Gaur has clarified that this requirement will only apply to cases where marriage between the partners is prohibited. Such relationships have been clearly specified in Schedule 1 of the Code.
Under UCC, only four documents are required at the time of live-in registration: proof of residence, date of birth, Aadhaar, and rental agreement documents (if applicable). Additionally, individuals who have been divorced must present a legal divorce decree, while those whose previous spouse has passed away or whose prior live-in relationship has ended must provide relevant documents at the time of registration.
Manu Gaur further clarified that a religious certificate verifying the relationship will only be required in cases where the partners have a pre-existing relationship that falls under the prohibited category mentioned in Schedule 1. In Uttarakhand, marriages in such relationships are extremely rare. This means that less than 1% of UCC registrations in the state will require such a certificate. Communities where marriages within the prohibited category occur can still register their relationship by providing a religious certificate.
Thus, the purpose of this requirement is not to restrict registrations but to assist applicants in completing the process. According to Manu Gaur, the format of the religious certificate has also been clearly defined in the UCC rules.
Manu Gaur also clarified that under UCC, any individual who has been living in Uttarakhand for one year is eligible for registration. This residency period is unrelated to permanent or native resident status. Many people from other states reside in Uttarakhand and avail benefits from government schemes. Now, only those who register under UCC will be able to access these government services, thereby reducing the strain on Uttarakhand’s resources.
If UCC applied only to native and permanent residents, many people from other states would be excluded from its coverage. They could marry in other states while benefiting from government schemes here. Moreover, the definition of “resident” in the UCC Act is specific to matters related to UCC and includes five different categories.
Its objective is to ensure that all residents of Uttarakhand have access to UCC registration while also enriching the government’s database. This process is similar to voter ID registration and is not linked to permanent or native residency.
Gaur has also given clarification on the registration form’s length, stating that while it is 16 pages long due to various available options, filling it out online takes only 5-10 minutes. Since the form is designed to be foolproof, it has been kept comprehensive. Even offline, it can be completed within 30 minutes. When registering online, Aadhaar details will automatically populate the form, making the process more convenient.
