The Uttarakhand Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, potentially setting a precedent for other States under BJP leadership to follow suit with similar legislation. The Bill was approved via a voice vote following a two-day debate. Despite Opposition calls to refer the draft legislation to a select committee due to insufficient time for studying its provisions, this proposal was ultimately dismissed. The Bill will now be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent after which it will become a law. BJP-ruled States like Gujarat and Assam appear keen to model their UCCs on the Bill passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly.
Uttarakhand will now become the first State after Independence to get a common law on marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.
During the discussion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said it is not an ordinary legislation.
“With its passage, a small State like Uttarakhand will script history,” he said.
He said the UCC will create equal laws for men and women across all faiths and will help create a non-partisan and non-discriminatory society. It will especially protect the rights of women and put an end to their exploitation, he said.
The hill State’s small tribal community is exempted from the proposed law, which also mandates registration of live-in relationships.
Children born of live-in relationships will be considered legitimate and deserted women will be entitled to maintenance from their partners. The Bill effectively bans polygamy and ‘halala’ practised among a section of Muslims.