Uttarakhand creates history by passing UCC bill in assembly, Dhami government one step away from making law

Pushkar Singh Dhami government passed the Civil Code Bill (UCC) Bill in the Assembly session. The UCC Bill was introduced in the House on Tuesday. After a two-day long discussion, the government on Wednesday passed the UCC Bill with a majority. During the discussion in the House between BJP and Congress MLAs, there was fierce counter-attack.

When the proceedings of the third day of the assembly session began, the Congress MLAs loudly attacked the government. A demand was made to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, seeking amendments and recommendations on the UCC Bill.

It may be noted that when the bill was introduced on Tuesday, the House echoed with slogans of Vande Mataram and Jai Shri Ram. Chief Minister Dhami had presented the bill after the approval of Speaker Ritu Khanduri. Encouraged by this, the BJP MLAs started raising slogans of Vande Mataram and Jai Shri Ram several times.

After passing, the bill will go for the President’s approval. Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri said that after the UCC bill is passed in the Uttarakhand Assembly, it will be sent for the President’s approval. He said that after it is passed in the House, it will first be sent to the Governor for his approval and after that the Governor will recommend this bill to the President for approval. This bill will be implemented in Uttarakhand only after the approval of the President.

Highlights of Uniform Civil Code

◾Age of Marriage – The minimum age of marriage for girls of all religions is fixed at 18 and for boys at 21.

◾Marriage Registration – Marriage registration will have to be done compulsorily within six months of marriage.

◾Divorce – Now the wife will also be able to demand divorce on the same basis on which the husband can seek divorce.

◾Polygamy – Second marriage i.e. polygamy during the life of husband or wife will be strictly prohibited.

◾Inheritance – Boys and girls will get equal rights in inheritance.

◾Live in Relationship – Registration has to be done to live in, married man or woman will not be able to live in. Jurisdiction – Will be applicable on permanent resident of the state, permanent employee of the state or central government, beneficiary of the government scheme implemented in the state.

With full responsibility, our government has presented the Uniform Civil Code Bill in the Assembly, taking all sections of the society along. That historic moment is near for Devbhoomi when Uttarakhand will become a strong pillar of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of One India, Best India.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister

The introduction of the UCC Bill in the House is a historic event. Uttarakhand is going to become the first state which will implement UCC. This is a moment of pride for the entire state. Special provisions have been made for women in UCC. This will give rights to the exploited and weak women in the society. They are going to get the rights of marriage, property and inheritance.

Ritu Khanduri, Assembly Speaker

The UCC Bill is going to realize the dream of women empowerment and implementing equal legal rights in the country. With this progressive law, women and children within the state will get all the rights which they were deprived of for the last 75 years. This bill looks at all religions and castes equally.

Mahendra Bhatt, State President, BJP

In 2016, the Law Commission had rejected the idea of ​​UCC. In the year 2021, once again the Central Government has constituted the Law Commission. In such a situation, what would be the justification for the state government’s bill? By excluding four per cent of the tribal groups of the state, the government has deprived them of the right to equality. What will happen in the case of those marrying from other states is also not clear. Instead of passing this bill, it should be referred to a select committee.

Yashpal Arya, Leader of Opposition

The UCC Bill is a blatant violation of the Constitution. Article 44 of the Constitution has made a clear provision that the Central Government will make efforts on this subject. Here also only more efforts have been said. Here the government is trying to impose it. The government has not given the opposition enough time to study the bill. I am studying the bill. I will present my views in detail on Wednesday.

Mohammad Shahzad, BSP MLA

Features of the Bill

◾Age of Marriage

The minimum age of marriage for girls of all religions has been fixed at 18 and for boys at 21. Currently, in some religions, girls get married at a younger age than this.

◾Marriage Registration

It is mandatory to register the marriage with the sub-registrar within six months of the marriage, for non-registration a provision of a fine of Rs 25,000 has been made.

◾Divorce

In the Uniform Civil Code, the reasons and grounds for divorce have been made the same for husband and wife. Now the wife will also be able to demand divorce on the same basis on which the husband can seek divorce.

◾Polygamy

There will be a strict ban on second marriage i.e. polygamy while the husband or wife is alive. According to experts, currently there is permission for polygamy in Muslim personal law, but in other religions the rule of one husband, one wife is very strictly enforced.

◾Will

Any person can bequeath his entire property. Before the implementation of Uniform Civil Code, there were different rules of will for Muslim, Christian and Parsi communities, which will now be the same for all.

◾Inheritance

Girls and boys have been provided equal rights in inheritance. The Code defines property as property and includes all types of movable and immovable property, including ancestral property.

◾Live-in Relationship

To live in a live-in relationship, registration will have to be done; married men or women will not be able to live in a live-in relationship. For this, couples will have to self-declare that they live in a live-in relationship. A child born from a live-in relationship has been given full rights.

◾Jurisdiction

Will apply to permanent resident of the state, permanent employee of the state or central government, beneficiary of the government scheme operated in the state. This law will also be applicable to people living in the state for at least one year.