UCC is not against any religion or sect – CM Dhami

Chief Minister got his marriage registered first on UCC portal

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while officially announcing the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, has said that today is a historic day not only for Uttarakhand but for the whole of India. From today, Uniform Civil Code has come into force in Uttarakhand to establish equality in the society.

In a function organized at Mukhya Sevak Sadan at CM residence on Monday, Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami formally unveiled the notification of Uniform Civil Code, launched UCC portal ucc.uk.gov.in and released the UCC Rules booklet. Chief Minister got his marriage registered first on UCC portal, whose certificate was handed over to the Chief Minister by Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also provided certificates to the five applicants who were the first to register under UCC.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the expert committee contacted 2.35 lakh people to decide the draft of Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand. He said that by implementing Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, the state government is paying true tribute to all the members of the Constituent Assembly including the architect of the Constitution Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

The Chief Minister said that during the assembly elections in Uttarakhand on 12 February 2022, he had resolved to implement Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand. Then he had got a new responsibility, only seven months after this he had to go to the assembly elections. That’s why many people were not able to believe it then. But he was confident that the god-like people of Uttarakhand would support him in this work. For the first time in the history of Uttarakhand, the BJP government was formed again. After the formation of the government, the first decision has been taken to implement the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand.

The Chief Minister said that UCC is a constitutional measure to end legal discrimination on the basis of caste, religion and gender, through this an attempt has been made to give equal rights to all citizens. Through this, women’s safety and empowerment will be ensured. Also, evil practices like Halala, Teen Takal, Iddat will be banned. Also, the Scheduled Tribes described under Article 342 of the Constitution have been kept out of its purview. This will protect their customs. Registered persons whose marriage was registered before the implementation of UCC or a divorce decree was declared or the marriage was annulled, will not be charged any kind of registration fee in the first six months.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that UCC is not against any religion or sect. It is a legal effort to establish equality by eradicating the evil practices of the society. No one’s basic beliefs and practices have been changed in this. The Chief Minister said that UCC is already applicable in major Muslim and developed countries of the world. By this law, the rules of marriage, divorce and inheritance have been made equal for all people. People of all religions can marry according to their own customs and traditions. But now in all religions the minimum age of marriage has been made 21 for boys and 18 for girls. Also, second marriage while the husband or wife is alive has been prohibited. Child rights have been protected in the Uniform Civil Code, and daughters have been given equal rights in property. To avoid differences between family members, the wife, children and parents have been given equal rights in the property of the deceased.

The Chief Minister said that in view of the present time, registration has been made mandatory for live-in, the registrar will give information about the couple to the parents or guardian. This information will be completely confidential. Children born from live-in have also been given equal rights. The Chief Minister said that following the basic mantra of simplification to implement UCC, online registration has been arranged, as well as clear rules have also been implemented. Full care has been taken that no citizen has to face any problem for this.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced that now 27 January will be celebrated as Uniform Civil Code Day every year in the state. He said that all the resolutions taken regarding Section 370, Triple Talaq, Ram Temple have been fulfilled under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On this occasion, UCC Rules Committee Chairman Shatrughan Singh gave detailed information about the UCC rules while Secretary Shailesh Bagoli gave a vote of thanks.