Dehradun: The draft rules for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) were handed over to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami by the Rules Making and Implementation Committee on Friday.
The Uttarakhand government will now seek review from the Justice and Legislative Department before moving ahead with the implementation of the UCC. CM Dhami has hinted at launching the UCC on November 9, which coincides with Uttarakhand's State Foundation Day.
Dhami’s 2022 Election Promise
Ahead of the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, the CM had pledged to introduce the UCC if re-elected. Following a victory that saw the BJP retain power, Dhami took swift steps to fulfill this promise.
Soon after being re-elected, CM Dhami established a committee under the leadership of retired Justice Ranjana Desai to draft the UCC. After months of consultations, deliberations, and public opinion gathering, the committee finalised the draft and submitted it to Uttarakhand cabinet, which subsequently approved it.
In February 2024, the UCC draft was presented during the Assembly session. It was passed by the Assembly on February 7, 2024. However, in order to properly implement the UCC, the government needed to draft detailed rules, which led to the formation of a seven-member Rule Making and Implementation Committee on February 10, 2024, chaired by former Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh.
Second Committee and Presidential Approval
In addition to the Rule Making and Implementation Committee, the Dhami government sent the UCC draft to Rashtrapati Bhavan for presidential approval. On March 11, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu granted approval, and a gazette notification was issued on March 12, 2024. The Rules Making and Implementation Committee then began drafting the rules required for UCC implementation.
The draft of the "Uniform Civil Code Rules, Uttarakhand 2024" is now complete and has been submitted to CM Dhami. Speaking on the occasion, Dhami commended the committee’s tireless efforts and noted that the next step will be a cabinet meeting to finalise the timeline for UCC implementation in Uttarakhand.
Tech-Driven UCC Implementation
The Chief Minister also highlighted that the implementation of the UCC will be supported by a dedicated online portal and mobile app, ensuring that citizens can access UCC-related services without visiting government offices. Additionally, training will be provided to officers and employees to ensure smooth execution of the UCC across the state.
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