Uttarakhand to pass UCC bill in February: CM Dhami
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said a five-member expert committee—formed to prepare a draft for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC)—will submit the document on Friday. After this, the government will introduce a bill in the assembly to implement the UCC. "Bringing a Uniform Civil Code was our pledge to the people," the CM said in a video statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Why does this story matter?
The UCC aims to unify laws across different faiths and tribes, covering areas like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance. It has long been a constant in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) manifesto. Alongside the construction of a Ram Mandir and the abrogation of Article 370 (which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir), the UCC has been a focus area for the party. Ram Mandir's construction and the abrogation of Article 370 have already taken place.
1-day special session to pass UCC bill
In his statement, Dhami said, "We formed a committee in the leadership of Justice Ranjana Desai." "The committee has finished its work...they will submit the draft on February 2, after which we will assess it. We will put it in front of the cabinet," the CM added. He also said a special one-day assembly session would be held on February 5 to discuss and pass the UCC bill.
Watch: Dhami's statement on UCC draft
UCC to be implemented before LS polls: Dhami
In a previous statement on X, Dhami expressed his government's resolve to implement the UCC before the Lok Sabha elections. "Our government has always been committed to implementing the UCC in the state in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'One India, Best India' before the elections," he said. In 2022, Dhami announced plans to implement the UCC in the state during the inaugural cabinet meeting.
Read Dhami's statement here
Expert panel chaired by retired SC justice
The aforementioned expert committee to draft the UCC was formed on May 27, 2022. Chaired by Supreme Court Justice (Retired) Desai, it comprises Delhi High Court Justice Pramod Kohli, former Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh, Doon University Vice-Chancellor Surekha Dangwal, and social worker Manu Gaur. The panel's report is said to emphasize the importance of gender equality and equal rights for daughters concerning ancestral properties.
Gujarat and Assam likely to follow suit
According to reports, after the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passes the UCC bill, two other BJP-ruled states—Gujarat and Assam—will likely pass similar bills in their assemblies. If all goes as planned, three states will enact the Uniform Civil Code before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, reports said.
