The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code has been enacted into law after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu. This legislation, which was passed in the state Assembly, marks a significant development by presenting a common set of laws governing marriage, divorce, and inheritance of property in Uttarakhand.
Following the President's assent, Uttarakhand has become the first state in India since independence to implement a uniform civil code.
The bill underwent a two-day debate in the Assembly before being passed by voice vote on February 7, despite opposition calls for it to be referred to a select committee.
Key provisions of the legislation include the mandatory registration of live-in relationships for residents both inside and outside the state, with children born from such relationships considered legitimate. Additionally, women abandoned by their live-in partners will be entitled to maintenance, and failure to register such relationships may result in a jail term of up to six months.
The law also grants women specific rights to seek divorce if their husbands are convicted of rape or other offenses related to unnatural sex, or if the husband has multiple wives. Furthermore, the legislation prohibits polygamy and 'halal', a practice observed in some Muslim communities. However, it exempts tribals from its purview to preserve their traditions, practices, and rituals.
The enactment of the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code has garnered interest from other BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Assam, which are considering implementing similar laws based on the legislation passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly.
