NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that over 1.5 lakh applications have been received under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) within just four months of its implementation in the State. Speaking at the National Democratic Alliance Chief Ministers’ Conclave chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Sunday, Dhami shared comprehensive details about the UCC rollout in Uttarakhand.
Highlighting the progress, Dhami stated that a robust and user-friendly digital infrastructure has been developed to support UCC implementation. This includes a dedicated online portal and mobile app, along with integration of more than 14,000 Common Service Centers (CSCs) across villages. To streamline operations and ensure timely grievance redressal, the system includes auto-escalation features.
Thanks to extensive digital and physical outreach, applications have been received from nearly 98 percent of villages in the State, indicating strong public engagement and support for the UCC.
Dhami credited the successful implementation of the UCC to the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He recalled that the promise to enact the UCC was a key commitment in the BJP’s 2022 Assembly election manifesto. Following the party’s electoral victory, work on the UCC began immediately, starting with the formation of a drafting committee on May 27, 2022. The committee, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai, conducted extensive consultations across all 13 districts, gathering around 2.32 lakh public suggestions and inputs from political leaders and commission heads.
The Uniform Civil Code Bill was passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 7, 2024, and received presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on March 11, 2024. After finalizing necessary procedures, the UCC officially came into effect across the State on January 27, 2025, making Uttarakhand the first State in India to implement Article 44 of the Constitution in its true spirit.
According to Dhami, the UCC is a constitutional initiative aimed at eliminating legal discrimination based on religion, caste, gender, and other social identifiers. It seeks to provide equal rights to all citizens, banning practices considered regressive, such as halala, iddat, polygamy, child marriage, and triple talaq.
Clarifying misconceptions, the Chief Minister emphasized that the UCC is not directed against any particular religion or sect. Rather, it aims to uphold equality and harmony through legal uniformity in matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Under the new legal framework, all couples must follow judicial procedures for divorce, and polygamy has been completely outlawed.
The code ensures equal inheritance rights for daughters across all communities and removes discrimination among children, including those born from assisted reproductive techniques or live-in relationships. Additionally, elderly parents have been granted property rights in their children’s assets, promoting their economic security and dignity.
In a significant step for social accountability, registration of live-in relationships has been made mandatory under the UCC. To safeguard youth and prevent social complications, registrars will inform parents or guardians, while ensuring confidentiality. Like the registration of births and deaths, marriages and divorces will also be formally recorded under the new law.
Dhami concluded by stating that a comprehensive and enforceable set of rules has been established to ensure effective implementation of the Uniform Civil Code across Uttarakhand.
