Uniform Civil Code implemented in Uttarakhand

The UCC came into force as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami unveiled its notification, released the rules for its implementation and launched a portal created for the mandatory online registration of marriages, divorce and live-in relationships.

Lucknow: Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to implement the contentious Uniform Civil Code (UCC) with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launching the UCC Portal, unveiling the notification and releasing the rules on Monday in Dehradun, the state capital.

‘’It’s not only a historic day for Uttarakhand but also for the country.....the credit for initiating the UCC goes to the Devbhoomi (Uttarakhand),’’ he said after launching the Portal.

‘’From this moment, we are implementing a uniform civil code....the rights of all citizens will be the same....the rights of the women of all faiths will be the same...we have fulfilled the promise we had made,’’ he said.

State Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said that the UCC had been prepared after detailed deliberations and that it was a matter of pride for the state. ‘’It will have a positive effect on society,’’ she added.

With the launching of the portal, online registrations for marriages, divorce, live-in relationships, breaking live-in relationships and inheritance also began in the state.

The UCC contained the same law for marriages, divorce, maintenance and inheritance. It also made registration of the marriage mandatory and provided for a fine of Rs 25 thousand for failing to do so. Those failing to get their marriage registered would not be eligible to receive any benefits from the government. It also provided for identical grounds to the husband and wife in cases of divorce and a ban on polygamy.

The UCC provided for a ban on 'iddat' (the period a Muslim woman must observe after the death of her husband or after a divorce and in this period she can not marry another man) and 'halala' (when a man irrevocably divorces his wife and wants to marry her again. In that case, the woman will have to marry another man, get a divorce, observe the period of iddat and only then can she marry the first husband).

The UCC provides for equal rights for sons and daughters and also does not differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate children. Children through surrogacy or assisted reproductive technology would also be considered as biological children.