Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government led by Pushkar Singh Dhami notified the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Wednesday (March 13). The state becomes the first to have a UCC in the country. The Act became law after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bill that was passed by the assembly last month.
It is to be noted that Uttarakhand became the first state since independence to have a uniform civil code.
On February 7, the bill was passed by voice vote after a two-day debate in the Assembly even though the Opposition demanded that it should be sent to a select committee of the House first.
The legislation mandates registration of live-in relationships for residents living inside or outside the state. Children born of live-in relationships will be considered legitimate. Moreover, women deserted by their live-in partners will be entitled to maintenance.
Those not registering live-in relationships may face a jail term of up to six months, as per the UCC.
Moreover, women have special rights to seek divorce if the husband has been found guilty of rape or any other offense related to unnatural sex and if the husband has more than one wife.
The law also bans polygamy and ‘halala’ practiced among a section of Muslims. The law, however, will not apply to the tribals for the conservation of their traditions, practices, and rituals.
Several BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Assam have evinced interest in implementing a uniform civil code based on the legislation passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly.
A nine-member committee headed by a former chief secretary was set up to prepare the draft of rules relating to procedures, and designation of competent level authorities for easy implementation of the provisions of the UCC law.
CM Dhami earlier said that it would ensure equality for all individuals without any bias in matters such as marriage, maintenance, inheritance, and divorce.
