Let us tell you that the government of India has been talking about Uniform Civil Court for a long time, and finally one State has taken the action on UCC.
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand applies to all residents except Scheduled Tribes and individuals or communities with special protections granted by authorities.
The UCC aims to simplify and standardize personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession.
Under this code:
- Marriage is only allowed if neither party has a living spouse.
Both individuals must be mentally capable of giving consent.
The man must be at least 21 years old, and the woman must be at least 18 years old.
They should not be related in a way that makes marriage prohibited.
Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Journey
Uttarakhand started its journey toward a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in March 2022 when the state cabinet approved the formation of an expert panel. The panel, led by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, was tasked with drafting the UCC. After a year and a half of consultations with different sections of the state’s population, the panel submitted its draft in four detailed volumes.
The draft was sent to the state on February 2, 2024. Shortly after, the Uttarakhand assembly passed the UCC bill. President Droupadi Murmu approved it in March 2024, almost two years after it was first proposed.
Key Features of the Uttarakhand UCC (Uniform Civil Code)
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Act of Uttarakhand will regulate laws related to:
- Marriage and Divorce: Sets the same legal age for marriage for men and women, with uniform rules for divorce for all religions.
Inheritance: Establishes common laws for property and inheritance.
Live-in Relationships: Requires mandatory registration of live-in relationships.
Polygamy and Halala: Prohibits multiple marriages (polygamy) and bans the practice of “halala,” where a woman must marry and divorce another man before remarrying her first husband.