Uttarakhand Becomes First Indian State To Implement Uniform Civil Code

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Except for Scheduled Tribes as well as certain protected communities, all state residents are subject to the UCC.

The role of the UCC is to simplify and standardize personal laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance, ensuring everyone follows the same rules regardless of their religion.

For example, under the UCC, marriage can only happen between two individuals who do not already have a living spouse, are mentally capable of providing legal consent, and meet the age requirements of 21 for men and 18 for women. Additionally, they must not be closely related in terms of family ties that are prohibited by law.

The journey to implementing the UCC in Uttarakhand started in March 2022 when the state cabinet approved the formation of an expert panel led by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai.

The panel worked for over a year and a half, consulting various sections of the population, before presenting a detailed draft in four volumes. The final draft was submitted to the state government in February 2024, and soon after, the Uttarakhand assembly passed the UCC bill. President Droupadi Murmu gave her approval in March 2024, nearly two years after the proposal was first made.

The Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand covers several important areas:

Marriage and Divorce: Establishes a uniform legal marriage age, specifies the grounds for divorce, and standarizes practices across religious traditions.

Succession: Sets uniform rules for inheritance and succession.

Live-in Relationships: Requires live-in relationships to be registered.

Polygamy and 'Halala': Prohibits polygamy and the custom known as "halala," in which a woman must wed and divorce another man before getting married to her first spouse again.

This initiative is seen as a step toward creating a more unified legal framework for the state's diverse population.

Also Read:

Also Watch: