Dehradun: Uttarakhand is set to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on January 27, according to Shailesh Bagoli, secretary to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The announcement comes a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Dehradun, news agency ANI reported.
The UCC portal is set to be launched at 12:30 pm on January 27 at the Secretariat. The UCC aims to establish a unified set of laws that will replace customary laws across various faiths and tribes, addressing issues like marriage, divorce, inheritance and maintenance. Although it is part of the non-justiciable directive principles of state policy in the Constitution, the UCC has long been a point of debate.
UCC rollout in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand will be the first state in independent India to implement the UCC. The implementation of the UCC was a key promise made by the BJP during the 2022 assembly elections, which saw the party secure a second consecutive term in power.
Ahead of the rollout, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the law is not meant to target any particular individual or community. He also said that the state would take strong action against illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Focus on women’s rights
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Dhami said, “There is no question of targeting anyone. We have made a uniform arrangement for all. We will focus on ensuring that women, who make up 50 per cent of the population, are given more rights and protection. This law is geared toward that.”
Dhami reassured that the state had not framed any policies to discriminate against anyone and that the state’s atmosphere was one of unity. He also added that authorities had been instructed to investigate any suspicious elements in certain Madrasas, especially concerning the presence of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. He said that such issues should not be tolerated in the Dev Bhoomi at any cost.
