The Uttarakhand government is planning to convene a special session of the state assembly soon to table the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), according to reports and they have included provisions for a comprehensive ban on polygamy, along with allowing live-in couples to register their relationships in the draft.
Earlier this year, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami established a committee that collaborated with a diverse range of citizens, engaging with over 2 lakh individuals and key stakeholders.
The UCC aims to establish a unified set of laws applicable to all Indian citizens, irrespective of religious affiliations, particularly addressing matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption.
According to an NDTV report, the draft bill proposed by Uttarakhand includes provisions for a comprehensive ban on polygamy, along with allowing live-in couples to register their relationships. Additionally, the bill, if approved, will institute equal inheritance rights for both sons and daughters.
The commitment to implement a UCC in Uttarakhand was a significant electoral pledge by the BJP during the preceding state assembly elections. Upon securing a second consecutive term, Chief Minister Dhami sanctioned the formation of a committee, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to draft the UCC in the inaugural cabinet meeting under his leadership.
The expert panel, whose tenure has been extended until December, has diligently gathered opinions from 2.33 lakh individuals, various organizations, institutions, and tribal groups in the process of formulating the draft. The committee received its first extension of six months in November 2022 and a second extension of four months in May of the current year.
