Tue Jan 28 20:32:34 UTC 2025: ## Uttarakhand Becomes First Indian State to Implement Uniform Civil Code
**Dehradun, India –** Uttarakhand has become the first Indian state to enact a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a move hailed by the state government as a step towards equality but criticized by some as potentially divisive. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the UCC on Monday, alongside a new online portal designed to streamline the registration process for marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships.
The UCC, which aims to unify personal laws across all religions, covers matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession. It explicitly prohibits practices like triple talaq and polygamy, while seeking to ensure equal rights for women. However, Scheduled Tribes and those who have migrated out of Uttarakhand are exempt from the law.
The new law mandates the registration of marriages solemnized after March 26, 2010, within six months, and live-in relationships within one month, with pregnancies resulting from such relationships to be reported within 30 days of childbirth. The online portal uses Aadhaar-based verification and AI-powered multilingual support, integrating with 13 government departments to simplify processes.
The 740-page UCC, drafted by a panel chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai following extensive consultations, was passed by the state assembly after its February 2024 presentation. While the government views the UCC as a progressive step aligning with India’s constitution, concerns have been raised by Muslim bodies regarding religious freedom and the impact on traditional practices. Chief Minister Dhami cited Article 44 of the Constitution in support of the legislation. The long-term societal impact of this landmark legislation remains to be seen.
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