Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India]: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday announced the official implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand, making it the first state in India to take this historic step. To mark this achievement, January 27 will now be observed annually as “UCC Diwas.”
Expressing gratitude, CM Dhami said, “I express heartfelt gratitude to the people of Uttarakhand and thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as we fulfil the promise we had made to the people of the state under their leadership and inspiration.”
Highlighting its significance, CM Dhami called the implementation of the UCC a pivotal moment in India’s post-independence history. He also launched a dedicated portal for UCC registration, streamlining processes for personal laws related to marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance.
“Today, post-independence, Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code. A portal has been prepared for registration. January 27th will be celebrated as UCC Diwas every year,” Dhami announced.
The Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024, introduced by the Uttarakhand government, aims to establish legal uniformity across diverse communities while exempting Scheduled Tribes and protected authority-empowered individuals and groups. The act applies to all residents of Uttarakhand, including those living outside the state.
An official order from the government stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of The Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024 (Act no 3 of 2024), the Governor hereby appoints the date 27 January 2025 as the date on which the said Code shall come into force.”
The move is being hailed as a landmark step towards legal uniformity and social justice, fulfilling a longstanding promise by the state government under Dhami’s leadership.