In a significant move, the Uttarakhand Assembly passed the historic Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill on Wednesday. The bill was passed by voice vote amid chants of “Jai Shri Ram” in the Assembly.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Uttarakhand government tabled the bill in the Assembly — the first such move in any state since Independence. The bill was presented by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami with an aim to establish uniform marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance laws for all citizens irrespective of their religion.
Earlier in the day, detailed discussions were held on the bill. Speaking in the Assembly, CM Dhami said this is not an ordinary bill. “India is a vast nation and it presents ample opportunities for states to make significant strides and set precedents that can influence the entire country. Our state has got the opportunity to make history and provide a guiding path for the nation as a whole. It is imperative that other states across the country also embark on a similar trajectory, aligning their efforts towards fulfilling the aspirations and ideals set forth by the makers of the Constitution,” he added.
The Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to the people of Uttarakhand and PM Modi after the passage of the bill. This is a special day… The UCC has been passed. Soon, it will be sent to the President. We will implement it in the state as a law, as soon as the President signs it,” he added.
Speaking further, Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the significance of the Uniform Civil Code, stating that it would ensure equality for all individuals without any bias in matters such as marriage, maintenance, inheritance, and divorce. He highlighted that the bill would primarily address discrimination against women, serving as a crucial step towards eliminating injustices and wrongful acts perpetrated against them.
“It is time to stop the atrocities against the ‘Matrishakti’… The discrimination against our sisters and daughters has to stop… Half of the population should now get equal rights,” the CM added.
Uttarakhand Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal said the UCC Committee conducted an exhaustive process, holding 72 meetings and receiving suggestions from over 2,72,000 individuals through emails and WhatsApp. Support for the UCC Bill was voiced by various members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
