Synopsis
The Uttarakhand Cabinet, under Pushkar Singh Dhami, has approved the UCC manual, with implementation dates to be announced shortly. This decision marks a significant step in fulfilling the government's electoral promise and establishing a unified legal framework for all religious communities.Key Takeaways
- Uttarakhand becomes the first state in India to implement the UCC.
- The UCC manual has been officially approved by the Cabinet.
- Implementation dates will be announced soon.
- The law creates a unified legal framework for various personal laws.
- Tribal communities are excluded from this law.
Dehradun, Jan 20 (NationPress) The Cabinet, led by Pushkar Singh Dhami, has officially approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) manual during a meeting held at the state secretariat on Monday, with specific dates for its implementation set to be revealed shortly.
This approval followed partial amendments to the rules that were recently drafted for the UCC's implementation. The amended regulations were thoroughly reviewed by the Law Department and discussed before being finalized in the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
After the meeting, CM Dhami addressed the media, reiterating the government's dedication to delivering on its electoral commitment.
"We assured the citizens of Uttarakhand during the 2022 elections that the UCC would be implemented swiftly once our government took office. We successfully drafted it, the committee prepared it, and it has now been passed. The President has approved it, transforming it into an Act. Training processes are nearly complete," Dhami remarked.
He highlighted the importance of Uttarakhand being the first state in India to adopt the UCC, stating, "We have finalized our analysis and discussed it in today’s Cabinet meeting. Implementation dates will be shared soon. As we are setting a precedent, it is crucial to conduct a thorough review and preparation for its rollout."
The UCC aims to establish a cohesive legal structure for all religious communities concerning marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and maintenance. While India has a uniform criminal code, a similar civil law framework is currently absent.
This legislation notably excludes tribal communities and prohibits practices such as 'halala', 'iddat', and 'talaq', which are elements of the Muslim Personal Law.
The UCC comprises 392 Sections organized under seven schedules and is based on a comprehensive 750-page draft spread over four volumes. This draft was developed by a five-member expert committee established in June 2022, tasked with assessing the introduction of the law in Uttarakhand.
Led by Retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, the committee presented its draft to the state government on February 2, 2024.
Subsequently, the draft was approved by the State Cabinet on February 4, followed by passage in the Assembly during a special session.
It received the endorsement of Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) on February 28, marking it as a significant piece of legislation in Indian legal history.
