Uttarakhand becomes the first Indian state to roll out implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on 27th January 2027. However, its applicability to Scheduled Tribes is excluded.

Uttarakhand is indeed taking a significant step towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), with several key provisions aimed at promoting gender equality and social reform.

Implementation Details:

Here are some of the major highlights:

• Minimum Marriage Age COMPULSORY in ALL religions would be 21 for men & 18 for women.
• 2nd Marriage is COMPLETELY PROHIBITED while husband/wife is alive & not divorced.
• Equal property rights to daughters in ALL religions. Hence going forward it property rights would be same for son and daughter irrespective of religion they belongs to. It promotes gender equality in inheritance matters .
• Live-in relations registration MANDATORY. Parents need to be informed COMPULSORILY. There would be penalty for non-compliance.
• Child of null & void marriage would be deemed legitimate.
• Children from live-in relationships to have equal property rights.
• Polygamy, Halala, Iddat, Triple Talaq and child marriage banned across all the religions. It marked a significant shift towards protecting women's rights.
• Scheduled Tribes have been exempted from the purview of the UCC, recognizing their unique customary practices and tradition

By implementing the UCC, the state aims to promote a uniform set of laws governing personal matters, regardless of religious affiliation. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has become the first person to register on the UCC (Uniform Civil Code) portal.

Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat says, "BJP and CM Dhami have been benefited from this. There is no benefit to the people of Uttarakhand. This is not even UCC. It would have been UCC only if it were made a central law and it would have been applicable in all the states. It will not be applicable anywhere outside the border of Uttarakhand."

"We will have conflicts with the existing national laws or the laws of some other states. They have given legal recognition to live-in relationships, which is against our ethos. We have some customary laws here, there will be conflict with them. I do not think that there is going to be any benefit from this.” Rawat Said.

On UCC being implemented in Uttarakhand, CPIM leader Brina Karat says, "It is neither uniform, neither is it civil. It's the most uncivil code. It is against the constitutional understanding under Article 44 of the Directive Principles, which says it is the union government which has the responsibility. Once every state is given the right, its no longer uniform but is determined by the state government. The bill has nothing to do with the protection of women's rights and everything to do with the narrow political agenda of the BJP-RSS. Why are tribal women kept out of it?”

During Samvidhan Gaurav Abhiyan in Pune, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia says, "Uttarakhand is the first state (to implement UCC). One nation, one legislation…one law. BR Ambedkar's dream Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the first model has been implemented and that day is not far when in the whole country UCC will be implemented.”

Background:

The idea of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was the part of BJP election manifesto during 2022 state elections.

Also, from the rampart’s of Red fort on 15th August 2024, during independence day speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that - Secular Civil Code is the need of the hour.

In May 2022, Uttarakhand government had formed an expert committee of five members chaired by former Supreme Court Judge justice Ranjana Prasad Desai to draft UCC. Committee has submitted a draft report to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on February 2024.

Article 44 of the Indian Constitution directs the state to endeavour to secure UCC for it’s citizens.

In post-independent India Uttarakhand became the first state to officially implement Uniform Civil Code. This step has finally kick started a national discourse of Uniform Civil Code again and its uniformity.

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