Uttarakhand Becomes 1st State To Pass Uniform Civil Code In The Country

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand etched its name in history on Wednesday, becoming the first state in India to enact a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

This landmark legislation, championed by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s administration, overhauls decades-old personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and cohabitation.

Debates swirled around the bill’s passage, with the opposition urging its referral to a select committee for further evaluation. However, Dhami defended the bill, citing its adherence to the Constitution’s Article 44, which authorizes states to adopt a UCC at their discretion.

“We have meticulously crafted this bill to align with constitutional principles,” Dhami declared in the Assembly. “It promotes equality and eliminates discrimination in crucial aspects of life like marriage, inheritance, and divorce.”

He accentuated the UCC’s potential to empower women, especially by addressing gender disparities. “This legislation is fundamentally about bridging the gap and ensuring equal rights for women, who constitute half our population,” he elucidated.

Dhami further envisioned the UCC as a shield against injustices faced by women. “The subjugation of our ‘Matrishakti’ must end,” he emphasized. “This new code paves the way for a future where discrimination against our daughters and sisters ceases to exist.”