In a crucial development, the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2024 has been granted assent by President of India Droupadi Murmu.
It may be recalled that in 2022, a committee was formed by Pushkar Singh Dhami-led Uttarakhand Government to prepare a draft of the UCC. This committee consisted of a five-member panel headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai and submitted its report to the Chief Minister.
Two days after the the State Cabinet approved the final draft, the aforesaid Bill was tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly (on February 6). It was passed the next day ie on February 7.
On February 28, the Bill was approved by the State Lieutenant Governor and reserved for President's assent.
Some key aspects of the law are: mandatory registration of live-In relations, conditions for a contract marriage, ban on halala, iddat and polygamy, and similar inheritance rights for men and women. It applies not only to Uttarakhand but also to residents of the State who are living outside its territories. The application to Scheduled Tribes, however, is excluded.
One of the most significant changes set out in the Act is mandatory registration of live-in relationships. Unprecedented to Indian law, persons who are part of live-in relationships (being Uttarakhand residents) are now required to register before a Registrar within one month of "entering the relationship”. On failure to do so, a jail sentence, or fine, or both may be awarded.
The state government is expected to soon issue a notification towards the implementation of the law.
