Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been implemented in Uttarakhand on Monday, making it the first state in independent India to enact such a law.
Dhami said in a statement that preparations for implementing the UCC, including approval of rules and training of officials, had been completed. He emphasized that the UCC would promote societal uniformity and ensure equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens.
“UCC is Uttarakhand’s contribution to the grand ‘yagya’ led by the Prime Minister to transform India into a developed, harmonious, and self-reliant nation,” he said.
The BJP had implemented the UCC a major promise during the 2022 assembly elections, which saw the party secure a historic consecutive term in power. Dhami attributed the party’s overwhelming victory to its commitment to the UCC.
After forming the government in March 2022, Dhami’s cabinet approved the creation of an expert committee to draft the law during its first meeting. Headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, the committee was formed on May 27, 2022, and engaged in extensive consultations over one and a half years before submitting its draft.
The four-volume draft, reflecting dialogue with various sections of the state’s population, was submitted on February 2, 2024. The state assembly swiftly passed the legislation on February 7, and presidential assent followed in March, clearing the way for its implementation.
An expert committee led by former chief secretary Shatrughna Singh was tasked with framing the rules for the Act’s implementation. The committee submitted its report late last year, and the state cabinet recently authorized Dhami to finalize the date for enforcement.
On Monday, Uttarakhand implemented the UCC, becoming a model for other states. Several BJP-ruled states, including Assam, have expressed interest in adopting Uttarakhand’s UCC framework.
“Celebrating 2025 as Uttarakhand’s silver jubilee year, we are achieving significant milestones. Fulfilling our UCC promise is one such achievement,” Dhami said on New Year’s Day. He referred to Uttarakhand as the “Gangotri” of the UCC, envisioning it spreading across India.
The government machinery is working at full capacity to enforce the UCC within the month-long timeline set by Dhami. The Act will govern laws on marriage, divorce, succession, live-in relationships, and related issues, ensuring uniformity across all religions.
The UCC sets equal marriageable ages for men and women, standardizes divorce procedures, and prohibits practices like polygamy and ‘halal’.
Doon University Vice Chancellor Surekha Dangwal, a member of the drafting panel, highlighted provisions promoting gender parity in marriage, divorce, and succession laws. The UCC also treats all children as legitimate, including those born of void or voidable marriages, eliminates the term “illegitimate,” and simplifies the process of preparing wills.
“Gender parity across religions is the essence of the UCC,” Dangwal told PTI. She noted that mandatory registration of marriages and live-in relationships has been streamlined with online facilities to ease the process for citizens.
A unique feature of the UCC is its “privileged will” provision for defense. This provision allows soldiers, Air Force personnel, or mariners engaged in warfare or expeditions to create wills orally or in writing under flexible rules.
The UCC’s implementation is a step toward achieving equality and societal harmony, setting an example for the nation.