‘Uniform Civil Code Laws Not Meant To Harass Anyone,’ says Uttarakhand CM Dhami

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said that Uniform Civil Code legislation is not meant to harass the people in the state adding that it will be implemented soon. 

Addressing the Civil Felicitation Ceremony organized at Indira Gandhi Sports Ground in the Kichha area of Udham Singh Nagar district, Chief Minister Dhami said, "The Uniform Civil Code law will be implemented soon. This law is not meant to harass anyone. The people of Devbhoomi gave their blessings in the form of votes for this law in the 2022 assembly elections.”

Uttarakhand Passed UCC Bill Earlier This Year

On February 7, 2024, the Legislative Assembly of Uttarakhand, India, passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill. This bill received presidential assent from Droupadi Murmu on March 13.

The draft was created by a five-member committee led by former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and was introduced in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Uttarakhand is the first state in India to implement a uniform civil code, as various communities typically adhere to their own religious laws and customs in personal matters.

What Does Uttarakhand UCC Bill States

It aims to establish a consistent set of rules regarding personal status laws—such as marriage, divorce, succession, and inheritance—that apply equally to all citizens of the state, regardless of their religion. However, Section 2 of the code specifies that it does not apply to Scheduled Tribes in the state.

Article 44 of the Indian Constitution outlines that the state should strive to ensure a Uniform Civil Code across the country, serving as a guiding principle for policy formulation and legislation.