Uttarakhand Assembly Passes Historic Uniform Civil Code Bill: A great step towards equality!

In a landmark development, the Uttarakhand Assembly passed the ground-breaking Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on Wednesday, marking the first instance of such legislation in any state since Independence. The bill, initially tabled by the Uttarakhand government in the Assembly on Tuesday, was presented by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami with the objective of establishing uniform laws governing marriage, divorce, land ownership, property rights, and inheritance, applicable to all citizens regardless of their religious affiliation.

Chief Minister Dhami underscored the significance of the bill during discussions in the Assembly, emphasizing its potential to set a precedent for the entire nation. He expressed the view that India’s vastness presents ample opportunities for states to make substantial advancements and influence the country’s trajectory. Dhami stressed the importance of aligning efforts across states to uphold the aspirations and principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal highlighted the exhaustive process undertaken by the UCC Committee, which included 72 meetings and solicitation of suggestions from over 272,000 individuals via emails and WhatsApp. Support for the UCC Bill was evident among various members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The key provisions of the bill encompass laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, succession, live-in relationships, and associated matters. Notably, the bill mandates the registration of live-in relationships under the law and enforces a complete prohibition on child marriage. It introduces a standardized procedure for divorce and ensures equal property rights for women of all religious backgrounds. Additionally, the UCC Bill sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 for women and 21 for men across all communities, making marriage registration mandatory for all religions. Moreover, it stipulates that marriages conducted in accordance with religious beliefs, customs, and ceremonies, such as “Saptapadi,” “Nikah,” “Anand Karaj,” among others, must be recognized under the law, including provisions outlined in The Special Marriage Act, 1954 and the Arya Marriage Validation Act, 1937.

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