Dehradun: Uttarakhand is set to make history as the first state in independent India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Monday.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that all preparations have been completed, including the approval of the rules for the Act and the training of concerned officials.
UCC aims to bring about uniformity in society
The UCC aims to bring about uniformity in society by ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens, regardless of religion, caste, or community. “UCC is just an offering made by our state in the great yagya being performed by the Prime Minister to make the country a developed, organized, harmonious, and self-reliant nation,” Dhami said in a statement.
Poll promise in 2022 assembly polls
The implementation of the UCC was a major commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly polls. The party’s promise to pass the UCC played a significant role in their historic victory, securing a second consecutive term in power—an achievement never before accomplished by any other party in the state since its creation in 2000. Dhami attributed the historic mandate to the party’s commitment to the UCC.
expert committee to draft the UCC in March 22
Upon forming the government again in March 2022, the state Cabinet, chaired by Dhami, cleared a proposal for the formation of an expert committee to draft the UCC. The committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, was constituted on May 27, 2022, to prepare the draft of the UCC.
Committee submitted its report to the state government late last year in Feb
In addition, an expert committee led by former chief secretary Shatrughna Singh was formed to frame the rules and regulations for the implementation of the Act. This committee submitted its report to the state government late last year. The state Cabinet recently gave its approval and authorized the Chief Minister to decide on a date for the UCC’s implementation.
UCC is a set of common laws that apply equally to everyone
The UCC is a set of common laws that apply equally to everyone in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. The government claims that the UCC is aimed at promoting equality and justice in society, ensuring that everyone is treated fairly under the same legal framework. According to the state government, the UCC applies to the entire area of Uttarakhand and is also effective for residents of the state living outside Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand setting a precedent for other states to follow
The implementation of the UCC is expected to bring about significant changes in the legal landscape of Uttarakhand, promoting a more equitable and just society. As the state prepares for this historic step, the eyes of the nation will be on Uttarakhand, setting a precedent for other states to follow.
