Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand: CM’s Stand on Second Marriage, Live-in Relationships & Property Rights

Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand: Pushkar Singh Dhami, chief minister of Uttarakhand, elaborated on the provisions of the newly implemented Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand and stated that polygamy is illegal for all religions in the state and daughters have a right equal to that of sons to inherit parental property.

Uttarakhand becomes the first state today to implement the Uniform Civil Code, which envisages that certain rules regarding marriage, inheritance, maintenance, and other civil matters should be common for all religions.

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Dhami further said: "Not a single person, irrespective of whatever religion that person belongs to, would be allowed to remarry as long as their first spouse is alive." He added," Daughters would have equal rights in parental properties in all religions."

Further, he noted that live-in relationships would have to be registered, and the registrar would inform the parents of the couple. Children born from these relationships will have equal property rights.

"Minimum age for marriage has been made compulsory in all religions - 21 years for a boy and 18 years for a girl. Second marriage is completely prohibited while the husband or wife is alive. Clear laws have also been made in the Uniform Civil Code regarding property division and child rights. Under these laws, daughters have also been given equal property rights in all religions and communities. Children born through live-in relationships will also be considered to have equal rights in property... In this law, registration for live-in relationships has been made mandatory. The registrar will give the information of the couple to their parents, this information will be kept completely confidential," he was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.

Dhami further announced: "The 27th of January shall be celebrated as the Uniform Civil Code Day in Uttarakhand."

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Dhami says UCC will end discrimination

“Uniform Civil Code is a constitutional measure to end discrimination. Through this, an attempt has been made to give equal rights to all citizens. With its implementation, women's empowerment will be ensured in the true sense. Through this, evils like Halala, polygamy, child marriage, triple talaq etc can be completely stopped...We have kept our scheduled tribes mentioned under Article 342 of the Constitution out of this code so that those tribes and their rights can be protected...On this occasion today, I would like to clarify again that the Uniform Civil Code is not against any religion or sect, there is no question of targeting anyone,” Pushkar Singh Dhami added.

Dhami today launched the UCC portal, marking the enforcement of the UCC Act.

An official order from the Uttarakhand government reads, "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."

However, the UCC will not apply to those listed as STs and other communities and power-enabled persons.

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