UTTARAKHAND: On January 20, 2025, the Uttarakhand Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, approved the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) manual during a meeting held at the state secretariat. While the dates for its implementation will be announced shortly, the decision marks a significant step towards fulfilling the government's promise to bring the UCC to the state.

The Cabinet approved the manual after reviewing and making partial changes to the rules that were initially drafted for the UCC. These revised rules, which had been examined by the Law Department, were discussed and finalized during the meeting chaired by CM Dhami. Speaking to the media afterward, CM Dhami reiterated the government's commitment to delivering on the promise made during the 2022 elections.

“We had assured the people of Uttarakhand that we would implement the UCC once our government was in place. We've followed through with that commitment. The draft committee prepared it, it was passed, and the President gave his approval. Now, the process of training is almost done,” CM Dhami stated.

He also highlighted the historical importance of Uttarakhand becoming the first state in India to implement the UCC. "We've carefully analyzed it, discussed it in the Cabinet today, and the dates will be revealed soon. Since we're setting a precedent, it's important that we thoroughly review and prepare for its implementation," he added.

The UCC aims to establish a unified legal system for all citizens, regardless of religion, covering areas such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and maintenance. While India already has a uniform criminal code, the UCC will address the need for a uniform civil law framework.

The law excludes tribal communities and bans certain practices like 'halala,' 'iddat,' and 'talaq' that are part of the Muslim Personal Law. The UCC is a comprehensive document, consisting of 392 sections across seven schedules, contained in a detailed 750-page draft.

A five-member expert committee, led by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, was set up in June 2022 to examine the feasibility of implementing the UCC in Uttarakhand. The committee submitted its draft to the state government on February 2, 2024. The draft was then passed by the State Cabinet on February 4, and the state Assembly approved it during a special session. Finally, the legislation received approval from Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) on February 28, making it a historic step in Indian legal history.

The UCC is aimed at ensuring uniformity in personal laws that will apply to all citizens, regardless of their religion, gender, or caste, covering aspects like marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and succession.