Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India]: The Uttarakhand government is set to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on January 27, making it the first state in independent India to do so. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will also inaugurate the UCC portal at 12:30 pm at the Secretariat on the same day.
Shailesh Bagoli, the Chief Minister’s Secretary, confirmed that the UCC will be implemented just a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dehradun. The initiative marks a milestone in streamlining personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession.
Key Highlights of the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024
- Scope and Applicability:
- The Act applies to all residents of Uttarakhand, including those living outside the state.
- Scheduled Tribes (STs) and protected authority-empowered persons and communities, as defined under Articles 342 and 366(25) of the Constitution, are exempt from the UCC’s purview.
- Marriage Provisions:
- Marriage can be solemnized only if neither party has a living spouse, both are mentally capable of giving consent, and the man and woman are at least 21 and 18 years old, respectively.
- Rituals can follow religious customs or legal provisions, but registration of all marriages post-implementation is mandatory within 60 days.
- Marriages between March 26, 2010, and the Act’s implementation must be registered within six months, though those already registered under earlier laws are exempt from re-registration.
- Registration Process:
- Sub-registrars must decide on marriage registration applications within 15 days.
- If no decision is taken within this timeframe, applications are automatically forwarded to the registrar.
- Appeals can be made if an application is rejected, and penalties apply for providing false information during registration.
- Transparency and Accessibility:
- Marriage registration can be completed both online and offline.
- Registrars and sub-registrars will maintain and monitor records under the oversight of a registrar general.
- Legal Clarifications:
- Non-registration of a marriage does not invalidate it. However, registration ensures legal recognition and protects individual rights.
Launch of the UCC Portal
Ahead of the UCC implementation, the Uttarakhand Government’s Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) conducted a successful mock drill for the UCC portal. The portal is designed to facilitate efficient registration and streamline the legal processes related to marriage and succession.
The Act is intended to promote individual rights, social harmony, and clarity in legal provisions while establishing a robust framework for both new and existing marriages to be recognized legally.