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Uttarakhand : a significant development, the Uttarakhand Assembly is set to deliberate on the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) today, following its recent approval by the state cabinet. If the bill is passed and enacted into law, Uttarakhand will stand as the first state in post-Independence India to embrace the Uniform Civil Code.
The potential implementation of the UCC in Uttarakhand has garnered attention, with several other BJP-ruled states, including Assam and Madhya Pradesh, expressing interest in adopting a similar legal framework. Notably, Goa has already had a Uniform Civil Code in place since its time under Portuguese rule.
The draft bill, which will be presented in the assembly, advocates for a complete ban on polygamy. Additionally, it includes provisions allowing live-in couples to register their relationships and grants adoption rights to all citizens. Noteworthy is the proposal for equal inheritance rights for both sons and daughters if the bill is cleared.
Last June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant push for a Uniform Civil Code, emphasizing the need for a common set of laws applicable to all citizens. The draft for Uttarakhand’s UCC was formulated earlier this year by a committee led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The committee engaged with over 2 lakh people and various stakeholders to gather insights.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had promised the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand during the 2022 assembly polls. With the draft now reaching the assembly floor, the Chief Minister envisions that Uttarakhand will serve as a model for other states to adopt the UCC, fostering uniformity in personal laws across the nation.
