Uttarakhand Assembly Passes Uniform Civil Code Bill
While the Congress expressed nuanced support, suggesting referral to a select committee for further discussion, the amendments proposed by the opposition were not entertained.
The Uttarakhand assembly unanimously passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill 2024, following a two-day debate, marking a "historic moment," according to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Dhami emphasized the significance of this legislation in providing a common legal framework for all citizens.
While the Congress expressed nuanced support, suggesting referral to a select committee for further discussion, the amendments proposed by the opposition were not entertained. Dhami highlighted the extensive public consultations, involving nearly 10% of households and garnering suggestions from 2.32 lakh individuals, which informed the drafting of the bill.
The UCC aims to ensure equality in matters of marriage, maintenance, adoption, succession, and divorce, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to end discrimination and atrocities against women. Notably, Scheduled Tribes have been exempted to preserve their customs.
The bill includes provisions for equal rights for women in inheritance, adoption, divorce, and a ban on polygamy. It mandates registration of marriages, live-in relationships, and divorces, with common marriageable ages set at 18 for women and 21 for men.
Following the submission of the draft report by the five-member UCC committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, to CM Dhami, the House also passed a bill providing reservation to statehood agitators in government jobs.
The UCC, a part of the non-justiciable directive principles of state policy in the Constitution, seeks to streamline personal laws across faiths and tribes, addressing issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance. The assembly's passage of both bills led to the adjournment of the House sine die.
