In a significant move, a five-member expert committee has submitted a draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The proposed legislation includes recommendations such as exempting tribal communities, prioritizing women’s equality, banning polygamy, and establishing a uniform marriage age across religions.
Notably, tribal communities, constituting 2.9% of Uttarakhand’s population, are recommended for exemption from the UCC, considering their voiced dissent. The committee emphasizes uniform adoption rights under the existing laws of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and proposes mandatory registration for live-in relationships.
The expert panel’s report suggests making practices like halala, iddat, and triple talaq as punishable offenses. It also advocates for a uniform legal age for marriage for both men and women, regardless of religious affiliation.
The committee received overwhelming suggestions during the consultation process for uniformity in the number of children for couples and measures for population control. However, the matter is deferred to a central government expert committee, expected to be announced soon, as mentioned by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Interim Budget speech.
The draft report, divided into four volumes, comprises the committee’s report, the draft code in English and Hindi, and a public consultation report. Chief Minister Dhami affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the UCC, fulfilling a pre-election promise, and anticipates other states adopting the proposed law.
The UCC Bill is scheduled to be tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly session beginning Monday. Once passed, it is expected to serve as a model for other states, with Gujarat and Assam likely to adopt similar bills.
Despite the government’s enthusiasm, Uttarakhand Congress chief spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni expresses skepticism, highlighting the challenges in implementing the UCC. Naeem Qureshi, president of Muslim Seva Sangathan, vows to protest if the draft affects personal and religious rights.
As the UCC debate unfolds, Uttarakhand’s legislative move could potentially set a precedent for legal reforms across the country, impacting various aspects of marriage, divorce, adoption, and personal rights.
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