Uttarakhand UCC Panel Head Wants Awareness Among Officials, Mass

Shatrughan Singh said biggest responsibility of implementing the Uniform Civil Code or bringing it to the ground lies with officials at the Municipality level.

Dehradun:Uttarakhand government has begun preparations to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as the first state government in the country to do so. The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the UCC Bill in February, and President Droupadi Murmu signed it on March 13, paving the way for Uttarakhand to potentially become the first state in India to enact the UCC.

A panel headed by the chairman of the implementation committee Shatrughan Singh prepared the draft. The draft was prepared taking considerations of various types of laws. Speaking about the bill, Singh said, "We have made a draft which will go for revision. Now the draft has gone to the Home Department which can amend it if required. If the state government seeks our opinion, we are ready for it. We have done our job, but the biggest responsibility of implementing the Uniform Civil Code or bringing it to the ground lies with officers and employees at the Municipality level. Therefore, they have to fully understand this Uniform Civil Code provisions.”

According to him, training officials up to the village level is necessary. "People need to know each provision properly. There is no need for training of district magistrate and SP-level officials. There will be no direct involvement of police officers in this,” he added.

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced intentions to implement the UCC by November 9, aligning it with the state's 24th foundation day.

Uttarakhand Assembly approved the UCC addressing laws pertaining to marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships. Subsequently, the Rules Making & Implementation Committee was established to outline the implementation of the UCC's provisions.