TNI Bureau: Uttarakhand became the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), On January 27, following Goa, which has had a similar framework in place. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami officially launched the UCC portal, marking the law’s commencement. Dhami described the UCC as a step toward societal uniformity, ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens, and aligning with the vision of a developed, harmonious, and self-reliant India.
What is the UCC?
The UCC is a uniform set of laws applicable to all citizens, regardless of religion, caste, or community, covering marriage, divorce, inheritance, maintenance, and adoption. Notably, Uttarakhand’s UCC excludes Scheduled Tribes.
The UCC was a key promise of the BJP during the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, where the party won a historic second term. The Uttarakhand UCC Bill, 2024, received presidential assent in March 2024, and the state cabinet cleared its implementation rules last week.
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Key Provisions and Changes
- Marriage and Divorce
- Minimum marriage age: 21 for men, 18 for women.
- Practices like halala, iddat, talaq, polygamy, and bigamy are banned.
- Marriage and divorce registration is mandatory, requiring details such as names, proof of age, religion, and Aadhaar.
- Non-registration after a notice from the sub-registrar incurs a ₹25,000 fine.
- Live-in Relationships
- Registration of live-in relationships is mandatory, with parental consent required for those under 21.
- Failure to register within a month could lead to penalties: a three-month jail term or a fine of up to ₹10,000.
- Termination of live-in relationships must be notified to the registrar.
- Children born out of live-in relationships are deemed legitimate.
- Property and Inheritance
- Equal property and inheritance rights for sons and daughters across all classes.
- Equal treatment for biological, adopted, surrogate, or “illegitimate” children.
- After death, property will be equally shared among the spouse, children, and parents of the deceased.
- In the absence of immediate family, property will pass to other relatives, primarily first cousins from the father’s side.
- The UCC specifies the order of succession and disqualification criteria, ensuring equal treatment of heirs.
- Special Provisions for Defence Personnel
- Defence personnel can create a “privileged will” during expeditions or warfare, which can be verbal or written, with flexible rules.
Implementation Highlights
- An online portal simplifies marriage and live-in relationship registrations.
- The Register of Marriages will be publicly accessible.
- Falsifying information during registration can result in up to three months of imprisonment, a ₹25,000 fine, or both.
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