Uttarakhand is ready to Implement Uniform Civil Code: Bill to be tabled today in Assembly

Today, the Uttarakhand Assembly is set to deliberate on the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which received approval from the state cabinet just days ago. The UCC is a comprehensive legal framework intended for all citizens of India, transcending religious affiliations, particularly addressing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.

If the bill is ratified and the law enacted, Uttarakhand would stand as the first state after Independence to embrace the Uniform Civil Code. Notably, other BJP-governed states like Assam and Madhya Pradesh have shown interest in adopting similar legislation, while Goa has adhered to a common civil code since its time under Portuguese rule.

The draft bill presented in the assembly advocates for a complete prohibition of polygamy, and sources reveal provisions for the registration of relationships for live-in couples. Adoption rights would be extended to all, and equal inheritance rights for both sons and daughters are emphasized in the proposed legislation.

This move echoes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong endorsement of a Uniform Civil Code in June of the previous year, emphasizing the impracticality of operating under dual legal systems. The draft, developed earlier this year, stems from a committee formed by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The committee engaged with a diverse cross-section of citizens, conducting consultations with over two lakh people and key stakeholders.

A pivotal commitment in the 2022 assembly polls, the Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand reflects Chief Minister Dhami’s vision, and he anticipates that other states will follow suit, utilizing Uttarakhand’s template to implement the UCC.

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