UTTARAKHAND: Uttarakhand has become the first state in India to officially implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a key promise made by the BJP during the 2022 Assembly elections. On Monday, January 28, 2025, the State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the notification for UCC, shared its implementation rules, and launched a dedicated portal for registering marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships online.

The UCC aims to bring uniformity in personal laws across all religions, covering areas like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships. The major changes introduced include:

1. The legal marriageable age is now 21 for men and 18 for women.
2. Mandatory registration for live-in relationships.
3. Equal property rights for children born in live-in relationships.
4. Compulsory registration of births, deaths, and marriages on the UCC portal.

In addition, the UCC includes rules for creating and revoking wills under testamentary succession. Marriages conducted before March 26, 2010, or outside the state, can also be registered if they meet legal conditions. However, tribal communities recognized under Article 342 of the Constitution are exempted from the UCC to protect their cultural traditions.

Speaking at the event, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami clarified that the UCC is not aimed at targeting any specific religion but at ensuring fairness for all, regardless of caste, gender, or faith. “The Uniform Civil Code is a constitutional step to end discrimination and empower women,” he said.

He further mentioned that harmful practices like halala, polygamy, child marriage, and triple talaq will no longer exist under the UCC in Uttarakhand. To honor this achievement, January 27 will now be observed as UCC Day every year in the state.

Describing the UCC as a major step, Chief Minister Dhami said that this move aligns with Article-44 of Indian Constitution, which advocates a uniform law for all citizens. He credited the people of Uttarakhand for this achievement, saying, “This is a step toward ending all forms of discrimination against women, irrespective of their religion.”

The implementation of UCC is a significant milestone for the BJP, fulfilling one of its major electoral promises. After winning the 2022 elections, CM Dhami’s cabinet prioritized forming an expert committee to draft the UCC.

This panel, led by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, submitted its draft to the state government on February 2, 2024. The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the UCC legislation on February 7, and it received presidential approval in March, paving the way for its implementation.