Uttarakhand Leads the Nation in Adopting a Uniform Civil Code

The transition occurred after the Uttarakhand Assembly cleared the Bill, fulfilling a major pledge of the BJP party during their 2022 electoral campaign in the state. The new law promotes equality between men and women while bringing personal laws into a more modern and uniform light for all.

Some of the changes the Uniform Civil Code brought to Uttarakhand include:

1. All live-in relationships & marriages will have to be registered

• All couples living together must ensure registration with the state. If one partner is below the age of 21, then parental approval will be needed.
• If one does not register or give false information on the application, a fine of ₹25,000, which may be accompanied by imprisonment for up to three months and/or such fine.

     2. Equal Ages of Marriage

• Women can marry at age 18 and men at 21, thus promoting further education before marriage.

     3. Abolitions of Gender Discrimination

• Triple talaq, polygamy, as well as child marriage is banned in UCC, thereby also abolishing iddat and nikah halala for an even line of divorce.

4. Inheritance with Equal Rights

• All children shall indiscriminately be referred to as children, and sons and daughters, alike, shall have equal rights of inheritance. The UCC Leading Uttarakhand to the Dawn of Reform.

5. Offspring of a Live-in Partnership:

• Children borne in live-in partnerships are entitled to inheritance since, according to the UCC, they are considered legitimate.

6. Specific Protections for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes:

• Due to their separate legal and cultural practices, Scheduled Tribes shall not be exempt from the Code.

The UCC has taken action to advance gender and social equality and rests on abolishing discriminatory personal laws. It attempts to level grounds by addressing the disparity in laws existing among populations, hence preserving the constitutional values of India.

Impacts and Implications

Uttarakhand’s deploying of UCC will serve as a light for other states following up closely with similar reforms. Through modernizing personal laws and guaranteeing equal rights in areas like marriage and inheritance, the UCC can significantly contribute to the empowerment of people, particularly women.

Stay informed of the latest news updates with The News Buzz.