The Uttarakhand Assembly has forwarded eight bills passed during the monsoon session in the summer capital Gairsain to Raj Bhavan for the Governor’s approval. Once approved, these bills will come into effect as laws.
Among the key bills is the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Bill, which extends the marriage registration period from six months to one year. The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion and Prohibition of Unlawful Practices (Amendment) Bill introduces stricter measures against forced religious conversions. It categorizes conversion through inducements like money, gifts, jobs, or marriage promises as a criminal act. Concealing religion for marriage could lead to imprisonment of three to ten years and a fine up to Rs 3 lakh, while conversions involving women, SC/ST communities, persons with disabilities, or mass conversions may attract up to 14 years in prison, and in some cases, life imprisonment.
The Uttarakhand Minority Education Bill seeks to dissolve the Madrasa Board and establish an authority to regulate recognition of minority educational institutions. Communities including Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, and Buddhists have been included under the minority category.
Other bills sent for approval include the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple (Amendment) Bill, the Uttarakhand Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, the Uttarakhand Witness Protection Repeal Bill, the Uttarakhand Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, and the Uttarakhand Loktantra Senani Samman Bill.
