NEW DELHI: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand government will implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state in January 2025. The BJP-ruled hill state will become the first state to implement the UCC.
The state government said a portal and mobile app have also been prepared as it believes the digital measures would make registration, appeal and other services through the online medium convenient for the people.
“The chief minister said that the State Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in Uttarakhand in January 2025. The Uniform Civil Code law of Uttarakhand will give a new direction to the society by following the basic spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas. This law will open new doors for empowerment, especially for the women and children of Devbhoomi,” the Uttarakhand CMO wrote in a post on X.
CM Dhami has instructed the officers “to ensure that all kinds of basic facilities are arranged along with proper training of the personnel to implement the provisions of the code”.
On March 11 this year, the President signed the UCC Bill, paving the way to make it a law. Thereafter, the state government had formed a nine-member committee for preparing the rules related to the procedures and other matters related to the implementation of the UCC Act.
The bill has seven schedules and 392 sections, focusing on four key areas – marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships. In addition, there are provisions for ending practices of polygamy, polyandry, halala and iddat, besides giving equal inheritance rights to males and females.
The UCC includes provisions that make it mandatory for couples to register their marriages within a six-month time span.
A couple of weeks ago, PM Modi had praised the Uttarakhand government over its UCC law, calling it the “Secular Civil Code”.
“After an extensive study, the Uttarakhand government has introduced the UCC and I consider it to be a true ‘Secular Civil Code’. The country is discussing UCC, and its necessity is being felt,” PM Modi said.