-Aditya Amitabh Trivedii
Dehradun, 27 January : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand has become the first state in independent India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on January 27, 2025. This landmark decision brings significant changes to the state’s laws governing marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, and inheritance.

With UCC in effect, a uniform set of laws will now apply to all citizens of Uttarakhand, regardless of their religion. Previously, personal laws varied for different communities, but now a single framework governs these matters. The UCC portal will be officially inaugurated at 12:30 p.m. at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Other states are also expected to follow Uttarakhand’s lead in the coming days.

According to Dr. Surekha Dangwal, Vice-Chancellor of Doon University and a member of the committee that drafted the UCC, the new law promotes gender equality in marriage, divorce, and inheritance. It ensures that all children, whether born in marriage or live-in relationships, are treated equally.

Key Changes Introduced by UCC:

1.Ban on Halala and Polygamy:
Practices such as Halala, prevalent in Islamic traditions, are now prohibited. Additionally, polygamy has been declared illegal. No individual can enter into a second marriage while the first spouse is alive.

2.Regulations for Live-In Relationships:
Parental approval is now mandatory for live-in relationships. Couples must register their relationship with the district registrar and inform authorities before ending the relationship. Failure to comply could result in a three-month jail term or a fine of ₹10,000. Children born from live-in relationships will be considered legitimate, and women can seek alimony if the relationship dissolves.

3.Uniform Marriage Age:
The minimum marriage age is now standardized for all communities—18 years for women and 21 years for men. This change eliminates earlier discrepancies, such as the lower age of adulthood for Muslim girls, and aims to curb child marriages.

4.Mandatory Marriage Registration:
Marriage registration under UCC is now compulsory, simplifying disputes related to succession and inheritance.

5.Equal Grounds for Divorce:
Grounds for divorce are now the same for both men and women. Either spouse can seek divorce on identical terms.

UCC is a significant step toward creating a uniform legal framework in the country and addressing long-standing gender and social inequalities. By implementing these progressive reforms, Uttarakhand has set a precedent for other states to follow.