Dehradun, January 25, 2025 – Uttarakhand will become the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) starting January 27, 2025. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is set to launch the UCC portal on the same day. CM’s Secretary Shailesh Bagoli has issued notifications to all departments to ensure preparedness for the implementation.
Key Changes with UCC Implementation:
- Uniform Laws: Marriage, divorce, alimony, and inheritance will follow a single law for all religions and communities.
- Mandatory Registration: Marriage and divorce registration will be compulsory for all couples married after March 26, 2010.
- Penalties: Failure to register marriage will incur a ₹25,000 fine and exclusion from government benefits.
- Age Criteria: Minimum age for marriage set at 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
- Abolishment of Practices: Practices like Halala and Iddat will be prohibited, and remarriage restrictions for women will be removed.
- Equal Inheritance Rights: Equal property rights for sons and daughters; no discrimination between legitimate and illegitimate children.
- Adoption and Surrogacy Rights: Adopted, surrogacy-born, and unborn children will have inheritance rights.
- Live-In Relationships: Mandatory registration of live-in relationships, with penalties or imprisonment for non-compliance.
The UCC aims to promote equality and uniformity in personal laws across all communities. Its implementation marks a historic move for Uttarakhand, setting a precedent for other states.
