Uttarakhand made history; the measure to create the UCC will be approved by the assembly tomorrow; learn about its unique characteristics

Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand, 06 Feb 2024: After suspending all the business of the House, the government brought 202 pages UCC Bill in the House. Now after the discussion on Wednesday, it is considered certain that the UCC Bill will be passed.

After two years of efforts, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday created history by laying the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Uttarakhand Bill 2022 on the table of the Assembly. Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to present the bill in the House. According to the provision in the bill, equal rights in property are given to son and daughter and children born in live-in relationship are also considered entitled to property. UCC will not apply to people belonging to Scheduled Tribe community. After presenting the bill in the House, the CM said that there will be no impact on the religious beliefs, customs, food habits, worship and dress of marriage in UCC.

On Tuesday, after adjourning all the business of the House, the government brought the 202-page UCC Bill in the House. Due to the displeasure of the opposition in the House regarding this process, Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan adjourned the House for two and a half hours so that it could get time to study the bill. The House adjourned at around 6.30 pm. After discussion, the bill is likely to be passed on Wednesday. During the discussion, the ruling party MLAs praised the Dhami government, while Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya and another opposition member raised the demand of sending it to the Select Committee for reconsideration. Before this, CM Dhami reached the Assembly with the Constitution book in his hands. During this, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya and Congress member Pritam Singh raised a point of order that the bill is being introduced, but they have not received a copy of the bill. He asked the Speaker to give him time to study the bill.

bill sure to pass

BJP has a clear majority in the assembly. It has 47 members. He also has the support of some independent MLAs. In such a situation, there is no difficulty in passing the UCC Bill. After discussion, it is considered certain that the UCC Bill will be passed. Being a subject of the Concurrent List, after the Bill is passed, it can also be sent to the President for approval through the Governor.

No tampering with the customs and traditions of caste, religion and sect
The Bill covers only matters related to marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption. The provisions made on these subjects, especially the marriage process, have not tampered with the traditions and customs of caste, religion or sect. Religious beliefs will not make any difference in the marital process. Religious customs will remain the same. It is not that the marriage will not be conducted by a Pandit or a Maulvi. There will be no impact on eating habits, worship, dressing etc.

Marriage registration is mandatory

• Under the bill, it will be mandatory for every couple to register their divorce and marriage after March 26, 2010.
• Provision for registration at Gram Panchayat, Nagar Panchayat, Municipality, Municipal Corporation, Metropolitan Municipality level.
• Provision of maximum penalty of Rs 25 thousand for non-registration.
• Those who do not register will also be deprived of the benefits of government facilities.
  -The minimum age for marriage has been fixed at 21 years for a boy and 18 years for a girl.
• Women can also make the same reasons and rights as the basis for divorce as men.
• Practices like Halala and Iddat have been abolished. There will be a ban on any kind of conditions for the woman to remarry.
• If someone changes religion without consent, then the other person will have the right to divorce that person and take maintenance allowance.
• It will be completely prohibited to marry again if a husband and wife are alive.
• In case of divorce or domestic dispute between husband and wife, the custody of the child up to five years of age will remain with the mother.
  equal rights in property
• Son and daughter will have equal rights in property.
• There will be no difference between legitimate and illegitimate children.
• Illegitimate children will also be considered biological children of that couple.
• Adopted children born through assisted reproductive technology through surrogacy will be biological children.
• The property rights of the child growing in the womb of a woman will be protected.
• A person can give his property to any person by will.

Registration of live in relationship is mandatory
Registration on the web portal will be mandatory for every person living in a live-in house.

• Couples will be able to take house, hostel or PG on rent only after registration receipt.
• Children born in live-in will be considered legitimate children and will get all the rights of biological children.
• It will be mandatory for those living in live-in relationship to register their separation also.
• If mandatory registration is not done, there will be a provision of six months’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.
  no law for adoption
  No law has been made for adoption in the Uniform Civil Code.
  The report of the select committee was presented in the house.
  Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan has tabled the report of the Select Committee constituted on the 10 percent horizontal reservation bill in government services for the identified agitators of Uttarakhand State Movement and their dependents.

With the guidance and inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are going to fulfill the pledge we had taken from the people of the state in the 2022 assembly elections to bring UCC law in the state. Our government took all sections of the society with full responsibility and presented the UCC in the Legislative Assembly.