In a significant move, the Uttarakhand Cabinet has given its approval to the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC), paving the way for the introduction of the UCC Bill during a special four-day session of the Assembly. Once enacted, Uttarakhand will become the first state in post-independence India to adopt the UCC, with Goa having already implemented it during the days of Portuguese rule.
Speaking ahead, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “With the aim of giving equal rights to the citizens of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, a Uniform Civil Code bill will be introduced in the Assembly today. It is a moment of pride for all the people of the state that we will be known as the first state in the country to move towards implementing UCC.”
It is pertinent to note that the proposed Uniform Civil Code aims to establish uniform civil laws that apply to all communities within the state, regardless of caste or religion. If ratified, it will create a legal framework for uniform regulations governing marriage, divorce, land ownership, property rights, and inheritance laws for the residents of Uttarakhand.
The Adoption of the Bill
The adoption of the UCC by Uttarakhand is expected to set a precedent, potentially prompting other states to follow suit. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously expressed his intent to implement the UCC in his state, while Gujarat is also considering its implementation.
Speaking during a press conference earlier in January, the Assam Chief Minister said, “Uttarakhand and Gujarat will bring UCC first and Assam will follow them with some new additions to those Bills, which will be an Assam model.”
“I am waiting to see the UCC bill of Uttarakhand and once that is done, we will bring the same legislation; but since we are working against child marriages and polygamy, there will be some innovation to it. In Assam, the tribal community will be exempted from the ambit of UCC,” he added.
Moreover, the passage of the bill holds another significant factor. As it fulfills one of the major electoral promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand in the lead-up to the 2022 Assembly elections.
