
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has expressed its opposition to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation proposed by the Uttarakhand government, describing it as “unnecessary, inappropriate, anti-diverse, and unworkable.” The bill, championed by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, was successfully passed by the state assembly on Wednesday, marking Uttarakhand as the first state in India to adopt the Uniform Civil Code.
The next step involves forwarding the bill for approval to President Droupadi Murmu, following which it will be enforced in the Himalayan hill state. The Uniform Civil Code, a key promise in the BJP government’s manifesto leading up to the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, aims to supplant the existing personal laws governing marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships.
Among its provisions, the new legislation mandates that live-in couples register their relationship with district authorities; failure to do so may result in imprisonment and penalties. Additionally, terminating a live-in relationship requires providing notice to the other party and the registrar to formalize and acknowledge the dissolution under state jurisdiction.
Although opposition Congress leaders in the state assembly initially advocated for the bill’s referral to a select committee for thorough examination, the assembly ultimately passed it without further review. The opposition clarified that while it did not oppose the bill outright, it sought detailed scrutiny to rectify any perceived flaws before its passage.
In response to the bill’s passage, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami emphasized that the Uniform Civil Code aims to empower women and contribute to their holistic development. He stated, “This law is about equality, uniformity, and equal rights. There were many doubts regarding this, but the two-day discussion in the Assembly clarified everything. This law is not against anyone. It is for women who have to face difficulty because of social norms. This will strengthen their self-confidence. This law is for the holistic development of women.” Dhami affirmed plans to forward the bill to the President for approval and to enforce it as state law upon receiving the President’s signature.