Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly to Convene Session for Uniform Civil Code Implementation

The Uttarakhand government has announced the convening of a legislative assembly session on February 5 to discuss the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. The decision comes after the formation of a five-member draft committee, headed by Justice (retired) Ranjana Desai, tasked with preparing a draft paper for the UCC’s implementation in Uttarakhand.

The committee, originally given a term until January 26, has received a two-week extension and is expected to submit its report on February 2. The Uniform civil code aims to establish a common set of laws governing various issues like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance, superseding customary laws across different faiths and tribes.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had declared before the state assembly elections in February 2022 that the UCC would be the BJP-led government’s first decision if voted to power. The announcement aligns with the BJP’s longstanding commitment to the UCC, similar to its pledges regarding the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the abrogation of Article 370.

In January 2023, the Supreme Court affirmed states’ authority to form committees to examine the feasibility of implementing the UCC. CM Dhami reiterated the commitment to UCC implementation in Uttarakhand, stating that the committee had completed the draft, and a legislative session would be called to enact the law.

The decision to implement the UCC is explained by Dhami as a move to provide legal uniformity to all religious communities and preserve the cultural identity of Uttarakhand, known as Devbhoomi, the land of Gods. The state has a 13.9% Muslim population, mainly concentrated in the Terai area, according to the 2011 census.

As the legislative assembly session approaches, discussions are anticipated on this significant legal reform that seeks to bring consistency to personal laws across diverse communities in Uttarakhand.