Uttarakhand Cabinet Approves Uniform Civil Code Bill

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, has greenlit the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill based on recommendations from a government-appointed committee.

The bill, striving for consistency in civil laws, is set to be presented in the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 6. This pivotal decision transpired during a Cabinet session chaired by Dhami at his Dehradun residence.

The Uniform Civil Code draft, entrusted to the Chief Minister by a committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, seeks to establish a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance laws for all citizens, irrespective of their religious affiliations in the state.

If approved on February 6, Uttarakhand would become the first state post-Independence to adopt the Uniform Civil Code.

Key committee recommendations encompass a ban on polygamy and child marriage, uniform marriageable age for girls across faiths, and standardized grounds and procedures for divorce.

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The Chief Minister stressed the need for thorough deliberations, postponing the initial discussion to February 3.

Dhami clarified that UCC implementation aligns with promises made during the 2022 Assembly polls and isn’t a tactical move for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Despite this, the draft faces opposition from political parties and religious groups in Uttarakhand. The Muslim Service Organisation objects, viewing the UCC as contradictory to religious specifics.

Members of the Muslim community express concerns about targeting laws specific to their religion, with the Chief Imam criticizing the lack of inclusivity in the drafting process. Additionally, apprehensions arise about tribes being excluded from the code.

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