Dehradun, January 27 –Uttarakhand has officially become the first Indian state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), starting today. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the Act aims to bring uniformity to personal civil laws concerning marriage, divorce, inheritance, and other matters, eliminating discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender.
“All preparations, including approval of the Act’s rules and training for officials, are complete,” CM Dhami stated. “This is a historic step toward ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for all citizens. The UCC is a significant contribution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating a harmonious, developed, and self-reliant India.”
Dhami recalled the BJP’s promise during the 2022 Assembly elections to work toward implementing the UCC in Uttarakhand. “Under the leadership of PM Modi, we committed to bringing the UCC as outlined in Article 44 of the Constitution, which directs the state to strive for a uniform civil code across India. We have now fulfilled that commitment,” he said.
Article 44, part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, underlines the need for socioeconomic justice and envisions India as a welfare state.
The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024 standardizes personal laws related to marriage, succession, and inheritance. Under its provisions:
Marriage is restricted to parties without living spouses and who are mentally capable of legal consent. Men must be at least 21, and women must be at least 18.
Prohibited relationships are not allowed, and marriages must be registered within 60 days of being solemnized, whether under religious customs or legal provisions.
Marriages predating March 26, 2010, or conducted outside Uttarakhand can be registered voluntarily within six months of the Act’s enforcement if eligibility criteria are met.
The Act also mandates the sub-registrar to process marriage registration applications within 15 days, ensuring swift action.
Scheduled tribes and specific protected communities, however, are exempt from UCC provisions. The law applies to all other residents of Uttarakhand, including those living outside the state.
The Act also reforms testamentary succession by creating a clear framework for wills and their supplementary documents. The government described it as a measure that simplifies legal processes and ensures uniformity in civil matters.
“This is not just a reform but a transformational change,” Dhami wrote on X. “Uttarakhand’s UCC is an offering in the great yagya led by PM Modi for a developed and united India.”
The government’s historic decision places Uttarakhand as the first state in independent India to adopt and implement such a sweeping reform in personal laws.
