The state government will call a special session of the state assembly to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, paving the path for...
Digital Desk: Uttarakhand is likely to become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the coming weeks.
Following Diwali, the state government will call a special session of the state assembly to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, paving the path for its implementation in the state.
The study is expected to emphasise gender equality and equal rights for daughters in ancestral properties. However, it does not advocate extending the marriageable age of women from 18 to 21.
In June, a five-member group led by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai finished drafting a report for Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code. According to The Times of India, the report will be handed over to the state administration in the coming days.
There would be no delay, according to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, once the report is submitted to the government.
Desai was named chairperson of India's Delimitation Commission on March 13, 2020. She was also one of the judges who ruled in favour of a NOTA clause in voting.
The code is based on Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which mandates that the state must work to maintain a consistent civil code across India's territory. However, as stated in Article 37, directive principles are guiding principles for government policy and are not legally binding.
The UCC plan has been met with opposition from orthodox Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and other minority populations whose customs have remained unchanged since British control.
According to reports, the highlights of the draft are:
Marriage age: The marriage age for girls will be raised to 21 years from the current 18 years.
Marriage registration: The draught proposed making marriage registration mandatory.
Live-in couples: Live-in couples will be required to notify their parents.
Halala and iddat: The proposed UCC draught specifies abolishing the practice of 'halala' and 'iddat' - words typically employed by Muslims to settle marriage disputes.
Polygamy: The UCC prohibits the practice of 'polygamy,' or having more than one woman, which is common in Muslim marriages.
Divorce rights: The law provides equal grounds for divorce for both husband and wife, regardless of faith.
Population control: According to the draught, the number of children should be fixed.
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an excellent pitch for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Bhopal in June, there has been talk that a bill may be submitted in the Parliament's winter session.
However, insiders say the centre will go through a lengthy process before submitting a bill.
In its 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto, the BJP committed to implement UCC if elected. According to reports, Gujarat may also introduce the Uniform Civil Code before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Other states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam, are anticipated to pass the legislation in a short time. Goa is currently the only state with a civil code that was implemented during the Portuguese period.
The Kerala Legislative Assembly was the first in the country to vote a motion unanimously opposing the UCC, calling it "unilateral and hasty." Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the resolution, which expressed alarm and dismay at the national government's decision to enforce a Uniform Civil Code.
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