Uttarakhand Assembly Gears Up for Session Starting February 5: Focus on Uniform Civil Code Bill

The Uttarakhand Assembly is set to convene from February 5 to 8, with the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill taking center stage during the session. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the government’s intent to present the UCC Bill in the House for passage. The Assembly Secretariat released a notification, officially announcing the dates for the upcoming session.

Key Legislation on the Horizon

Chief Minister Dhami, in a recent announcement, revealed that the UCC panel’s final report is expected to be submitted to the government on February 2. Following this, the report will be presented to the cabinet, paving the way for the introduction of the UCC Bill in the Assembly. Sources indicate that the Bill is slated for presentation on February 6.

Additional Legislation on Reservation

In addition to the UCC Bill, the government plans to introduce a bill in the House proposing a 10% horizontal reservation in government services for state agitators and their dependents.

BJP’s Commitment to UCC

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), during the 2022 Assembly elections, pledged to implement the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand if the party retained power. Following its victory, the government established a UCC panel under the leadership of Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai on May 27, 2022.

Context of Uniform Civil Code

Article 44 of the Constitution of India advocates for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) throughout the country. The UCC aims to establish a common set of laws governing marriage, inheritance, adoption, and other related matters.

The debate around the Uniform Civil Code has been a longstanding one in political circles. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for UCC implementation in June of the previous year during an address in Bhopal, highlighting its alignment with the fundamental principles and ideals of the Constitution.

PM Modi’s Assertion

During his address, PM Modi asserted that the country cannot function with two sets of laws and underscored that the UCC was in harmony with the Constitution’s founding principles. He pointed out that the Supreme Court had also advocated for the implementation of the UCC. PM Modi criticized opposition parties for playing vote bank politics on the issue.