The News Freedom
Dehradun, February 7
In a historic move, the Uttarakhand state assembly unanimously passed a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on Wednesday, marking a major step towards unifying personal laws for all citizens (excluding Scheduled Tribes) regardless of their faith. The BJP-led government’s legislation, tabled by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, establishes a common set of rules governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, property, and land rights. It also mandates the registration of live-in relationships, granting rights and entitlements to individuals involved, such as maintenance for women abandoned by partners and legitimacy for children born out of such unions.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dhami hails the passing of the bill in the Assembly, highlighting its significance in ensuring uniformity and equality in the state. Addressing concerns raised during the two-day assembly discussions, Dhami emphasizes the law’s aim to support women facing social norms and boost their self-confidence for holistic development. While addressing the media, he assures the bill’s non-discriminatory nature and pledges prompt implementation upon the President’s approval.
LIVE: विधानसभा में समान नागरिक संहिता विधेयक पारित होने के उपरांत मीडिया को संबोधित करते हुए https://t.co/kqs3K8jys4
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (Modi Ka Parivar) (@pushkardhami) February 7, 2024
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill key highlights
- Uniform marriage age: The Code sets a common minimum age of 18 for women and 21 for men across all communities, effectively banning child marriage.
- Standardized divorce process: The Bill proposes a uniform procedure for divorce, potentially simplifying the process and offering consistency across religious groups.
- Equal property rights: Women from all religions would gain equal inheritance rights to ancestral property under the UCC.
- Mandatory marriage registration: All marriages, regardless of religion, would require mandatory registration, with unregistered marriages deemed invalid.
- Religious freedom in ceremonies: While emphasizing registration, the Code allows marriage ceremonies to be conducted according to religious traditions, including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh customs.
- Exclusion of Scheduled Tribes: Notably, the Bill excludes Scheduled Tribes and communities with protected customary rights, respecting their existing legal frameworks.
आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व में हमारी डबल इंजन सरकार द्वारा महिलाओं के लिए विभिन्न योजनाएं संचालित की जा रही हैं। इतिहास में 21वीं सदी के तीसरे दशक को महिला सशक्तिकरण के दशक के रूप में याद रखा जाएगा।#UCCInUttarakhand pic.twitter.com/Lp3us3WFIo
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (Modi Ka Parivar) (@pushkardhami) February 7, 2024
हमारी सरकार द्वारा समान नागरिक संहिता में लिव इन संबंधों को भी स्पष्ट रूप से परिभाषित किया गया है।#UCCInUttarakhand pic.twitter.com/LqHyUSKkoo
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (Modi Ka Parivar) (@pushkardhami) February 7, 2024
The bill’s passage follows extensive consultations. A five-member committee led by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai received suggestions from over 2.72 lakh individuals through email and WhatsApp and conducted 72 meetings across the state.