Draft:Uniform Civil Code (Uttarakhand)

The Uniform Civil Code -Uttarakhand is a proposed law in Uttarakhand to formulate and implement a state level civil code governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and maintenance that are currently governed by various personal laws based on different religions and communities.

Background
The Implementation of Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand was one of the key promises of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2022 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Elections.

In 2022, the Government of Uttarakhand constituted a five-member expert committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to study and draft a UCC law for the state.

The Committee therefore asked for Public suggestion in which it received 60,810 suggesstions regarding the drafting and implementation.

On 02 February,2024 the committee submitted its report to the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

On 04 February,2024 the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister approved the Committee's Report.

Gender Equality

 * Elimination of discriminatory practices in inheritance laws, ensuring equal rights for daughters and sons.
 * Provisions for equal property rights for women in marriage and divorce settlements.
 * Abolition of polygamy which is currently allowed under Muslim personal law.

Marriage and Divorce

 * Standardization of the minimum age of marriage for both men and women, potentially raising it to 21 years to address child marriage concerns.
 * Streamlining divorce procedures and ensuring equal rights for both spouses during dissolution of marriage.
 * Possible introduction of a uniform waiting period for remarriage after divorce.
 * Declaration of Live-in Relationship.

Adoption and Maintenance

 * Establishing a uniform framework for adoption procedures, regardless of religion.
 * Ensuring equal rights and responsibilities for both parents concerning child maintenance.

Other Potential Provisions

 * Regulation of religious customs and practices that might violate individual rights or public order.
 * Streamlining procedures for interfaith marriages and inheritance in such cases.
 * Inclusion of safeguards to protect the cultural and religious identities of minority communities.