President Murmu approves Uttarakhand’s UCC Bill

President Droupadi Murmu gave her approval to Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill for the year 2024 on Wednesday, as confirmed by the state government through an official statement. With the President’s endorsement, Uttarakhand is poised to become the first state in the country to enforce the UCC.

Governor Gurmit Singh had previously referred the Bill, sent by the state government, to President Murmu for her consideration on February 29. The significance of the UCC was emphasized by the state government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who introduced the Bill on February 6.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the Legislative Assembly as a “historic day in the history of Uttarakhand” on February 7. The Bill was comfortably passed during a special session of the Uttarakhand assembly on the same day, with the Chief Minister himself presenting it.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) seeks to establish consistent laws for personal matters across all communities. These matters encompass aspects such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and property rights. The UCC is intended to apply uniformly to all citizens, irrespective of their religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

Embedded within the Constitution’s non-justiciable directive principles of state policy, the UCC has sparked debate. While some members of the Constituent Assembly advocated for its obligatory implementation, others expressed concerns regarding potential encroachments on religious freedom and cultural diversity.