Published on: 07 October, 2024 21:48 IST
LI Network
The committee appointed for formulating rules for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand has completed its discussions and is set to submit its suggestions in the form of a booklet to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. If approved, the UCC could be implemented in the state by November 9, coinciding with Uttarakhand’s Foundation Day.
The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the UCC Bill in February, and President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on March 13, paving the way for Uttarakhand to potentially become the first state in India to enforce the UCC.
Chief Minister Dhami reaffirmed last month that the government would implement the UCC before November 9, stating that it would provide a uniform legal framework for all citizens, regardless of religion. This framework would govern personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.
The UCC is expected to establish a common marriageable age for girls, grant Muslim women adoption rights, ban practices such as halala and iddat, recognize live-in relationships, and simplify adoption procedures. Notably, the bill does not include population control measures and excludes Scheduled Tribes, who make up 3% of the state’s population.
A government-appointed panel, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, has drafted a comprehensive four-volume, 749-page report. This report includes inputs from 2.33 lakh written submissions and feedback from over 60,000 people across 70 public forums.
With other BJP-ruled states, such as Rajasthan, also expressing interest in introducing the UCC, Uttarakhand may serve as a blueprint for future implementations of the code across the country.