The Uttarakhand government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, presented Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation to the state Assembly today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat” and “Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas” objectives are in line with this action. A panel led by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, who was appointed by the government, issued an in-depth report that was divided into four volumes and comprised 779 pages.
1.The panel held more than 70 public meetings and solicited written input from 2.33 lakh people online, including over 60,000 people in the drafting process.
2.The proposed UCC encompasses various aspects of civil life, including marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance laws, without regard to religious affiliations. Notable recommendations include a ban on polygamy and child marriage, standardizing the marriageable age for girls across all faiths, and establishing a uniform divorce process. These measures aim to promote gender equality and social cohesion.
3.During the ongoing special four-day assembly session, the recommendations will be deliberated upon. If enacted, Uttarakhand will become the first state in post-Independence India to adopt the UCC, following Goa’s example from the days of Portuguese rule.
4.The proposed UCC extends adoption rights to all, including Muslim women, and seeks to outlaw practices like halala and iddat. Additionally, it promotes the recognition of live-in relationships and simplifies adoption procedures.
5.Registration of live-in relationships will be mandated under the law, providing legal sanctity and reducing false cases, according to legal experts. The UCC also ensures equal property rights for sons and daughters, eliminates distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate children, and grants equal treatment to adopted and biological children.
6.The recently introduced UCC ensures equal property rights for parents, children, and spouses upon death, which is a change from prior legislation. The Scheduled Tribes, who make up 3% of Uttarakhand’s population, and population control measures are not included.
