CM Pushkar Singh Dhami speaking at the first “Uniform Civil Code Day” organized at Himalayan Cultural Center Garhi Cantt on Tuesday.
State Bureau, Jagran Dehradun. In the first “Uniform Civil Code Day” organized at Himalayan Cultural Center Garhi Cantt on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that there is a feeling of pride from the announcement of UCC to its effective implementation.
During this, he also honored the committee members who prepared the Uniform Civil Code, the administrative officers who carried out efficient implementation and the VLC who contributed in registration. During the programme, the Chief Minister also visited a photo exhibition based on UCC.
At the ceremony, Chief Minister Dhami said that today will be recorded as a golden chapter in the history of Uttarakhand state, on this day Uniform Civil Code has come into force in the state, which has ensured the establishment of social justice, equality and constitutional values in the society.
He said that Sanatan culture and tradition has always been the conductor of harmony and equality. Lord Shri Krishna has also preached in Geeta “Samoham Sarvabhuteshu Na Me Dvishyosti Na Priyah”, which means I have equal feelings towards all living beings, neither am I an enemy of anyone nor am I partial to anyone. This is the greatness of Sanatan culture, which has shown the world the path of equality, justice and humanity for centuries.
The resolution of the constitution makers came true
The Chief Minister said that all the Constitution makers including Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar had included “Uniform Civil Code” in the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 44 of the Constitution. His opinion was that there should be uniform laws for all citizens of the country.
This is why under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before the 2022 assembly elections, he resolved to implement “Uniform Civil Code” in the state in his vision document. The people of Devbhoomi also provided immense support and blessings to BJP for this “Devkarya”.
Chief Minister Dhami said that he started work to implement UCC in Uttarakhand from the very first day he assumed power. In this sequence, on 7 February 2024, the Uniform Civil Code Bill was passed in the State Assembly and sent to the President.
Which got the approval of the President on 11 March 2024. After this, completing all the necessary rules and procedures, the state government duly implemented the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand on January 27, 2025.
Beginning of a new era of women empowerment
Chief Minister Dhami said that due to different personal laws for some communities in the society, there was a situation of discrimination, inequality and injustice. With the implementation of UCC, not only have all the citizens of the state got equal rights but it has also started a new era of women empowerment in the state.
Now the Muslim sisters and daughters of Uttarakhand have got freedom from the evils like Halala, Iddat, polygamy, child marriage and triple talaq. After the implementation of UCC, not a single case of Halala or polygamy came to light in Uttarakhand. This is why Muslim women have welcomed this law.
He said that for several decades after independence, due to vote bank politics, courage was not shown to implement UCC. Whereas Uniform Civil Code is already in force in all the developed and civilized countries of the world including major Muslim nations.
striving for harmony through equality
The Chief Minister said that the Uniform Civil Code is not against any religion or sect, rather it is a legal effort to establish “equality and harmony” among all the citizens by eradicating the bad practices of the society.
Through this law, the basic beliefs and practices of any religion have not been changed, only the bad practices have been removed. In UCC, the rules related to marriage, divorce and inheritance etc. have been made uniform for people of all religions.
Besides, clear laws have also been made regarding distribution of property and child rights. There is no discrimination among children in the property rights. After the death of any person, any kind of dispute does not arise among the family members regarding his property. For this, equal rights have been given on the property of the deceased to his wife, children and parents.
The Chief Minister said that in view of the present times, registration for live-in relationships has been made mandatory in this law to ensure the safety of young men and women.
The registrar will give information about the couple registering to their parents or guardian, this information is being kept completely confidential. Children born during live-in are considered to be the children of the couple and are given all the rights equal to biological children.
Not just announcement but also successful implementation
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride for him personally that he has shown the Uniform Civil Code from its announcement to its effective implementation on the ground.
He said that in the last one year, the State Government has made access to government services more simple, accessible and transparent for the citizens through the Uniform Civil Code. Where before the implementation of UCC, there used to be only 67 marriage registrations on an average in our state, today the number has increased to more than 1400 per day.
100% registration of married couples has been successfully completed in more than 30 percent gram panchayats of the state. In the last one year, more than 5 lakh applications were received under UCC, out of which more than 95 percent have been disposed of.
Through the online portal system and more than 7,500 active Common Service Centers in the state, governance has truly been brought directly to the doorstep of the people.
Strict provision for fraud in marriage
The Chief Minister said that recently the State Government had passed a bill related to necessary amendments in the UCC, which had received the approval of the Governor a day earlier.
Under which there is a provision to cancel such marriages if someone hides his identity or tells wrong facts at the time of marriage.
Along with this, strict penal provisions have been ensured for any kind of force, pressure, fraud or unlawful acts in marriage and live-in relationships.
Strong decisions unite the country
The Chief Minister said that Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay had resolved to abolish Article 370 and implement Uniform Civil Code in Kashmir since the inception of Jan Sangh, now this resolution has become a reality.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has been proved that strong decisions do not break the country but unite it. He said that some people are deliberately trying to spread misconceptions regarding the Uniform Civil Code. Motivated by political motives, confusion was sometimes spread regarding native resident and sometimes live-in registration.
He stressed that no person can become a 'native resident' of the state through this. Similarly, the provision of live-in relationship registration has been made to protect the safety, honor and rights of sisters and daughters.
The Chief Minister said that just as Mother Ganga originates from Uttarakhand and irrigates the whole of India, in the same way, this section of 'Uniform Civil Code' emerging from Uttarakhand will definitely inspire other states of the country to move forward in this direction.
There will be strictness on polygamy
The Chief Minister said that some cases related to polygamy and divorce have also come to light, in such cases separate provisions will be made and strictest action will be taken. He said that now an American NGO has held him responsible for hate speech, but if speaking against conversion and encroachment on government land is hate speech, then it is fine.
On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, MP Naresh Bansal, MLA Khajan Das, Savita Kapoor, Suresh Gadia, Brij Bhushan Gairola, Secretary Home Shailesh Bagoli, DGP Deepam Seth, UCC Committee member former Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh, Doon University VC Prof. Surekha Dangwal, Manu Gaur, Ajay Mishra, Special Secretary Home Nivedita Kukreti and other dignitaries were present.
Also read- Important changes in Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand government implemented amended ordinance
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