Uttarakhand : Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in Uttarakhand soon, the committee has got more than four and a half lakh suggestions so far
The government’s move to review the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand can prove to be a game changer. The enthusiastic participation of the public in giving suggestions has increased the enthusiasm of the expert committee. The committee has received bumper suggestions. Out of these, the number of suggestions received in writing is more than 3.50 lakh. Including suggestions sent online, e-mail and by post, this figure has crossed 4.50 lakhs. The committee is now holding meetings with representatives of religious and community organizations.
Report on UCC to be submitted to Chief Minister
The expert committee is to submit its report on UCC to the chief minister within six months. On March 27, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami constituted a five-member expert committee under the chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice (retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai to prepare the draft of the UCC. The members of the committee include Judge (Retd) Pradeep Kohli, retired IAS Shatrughan Singh, Doon University Vice Chancellor Surekha Dangwal and social activist Manu Gaur. The committee had launched the website on September 8 to invite suggestions on UCC. The committee has so far received a large number of suggestions regarding the Uniform Civil Code. More than three and a half lakh suggestions have been made available to the office of the committee. 60 thousand suggestions have been received through online mediums. 22 thousand suggestions have been received through e-mail. The number of suggestions received by post is 30 thousand. Apart from this, the committee has now started contacting various community institutions, organizations, religious communities and institutions.
So far, contact has been made with Sikh representatives at Nanakmatta Gurdwaras in Udhamsinghnagar district and saints of Akhara Parishad in Haridwar. In Uttarakhand, this responsibility is being handled by committee members Shatrughan Singh, Surekha Dangwal and Manu Gaur. The committee is also meeting other religious leaders and communities and getting their advice. This sequence of offerings continues. The committee will include the suggestions and views of prominent eminent persons of major religions, communities and tribes of the state in its report on seven points related to UCC. The Expert Committee has two offices, one in Dehradun and the other in New Delhi.
Major tasks and responsibilities assigned to the expert committee
- Drafting relevant laws governing individual civil affairs of all citizens residing in the state
- Providing amendments and suggestions in the laws currently in force
- To bring about uniformity in the laws currently prevailing in the state regarding marriage, divorce
- Uniformity in the prevailing laws regarding right to property and inheritance
- Uniformity in the prevailing laws regarding inheritance, adoption and maintenance and protection
- Drafting for Uniform Civil Code in the State
- Other points, which are appropriate in the public interest for the Uniform Civil Code proposed to the Expert Committee.
- Akhara Parishad and all 13 akhadas supported
All India Akhara Parishad and all 13 Akharas have extended their support to the government for the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand. The council said that there should be a law and justice system for all in the country. Failure to do so is an insult to the Indian Constitution and a clear violation of the principle of equality enshrined by the Constitution.
In this matter, the members of the expert committee formed by the Uttarakhand government held separate meetings in Haridwar with both the factions of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (Niranjani and Mahanirvani). Members of the committee, former IAS Shatrughan Singh of Uttarakhand, Manoj Gaur and Doon University Vice Chancellor Surekha Dangwal took suggestions and advice along with knowing the views of the saints.
