Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami during an event to announce the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.Photo: PTI Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami during an event to announce the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.Photo: PTI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami became the first to register his marriage on the newly launched UCC portal as the state became the first in independent India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Monday. Chief Secretary Radha Raturi presented him with the registration certificate.

CM Dhami made the announcement during a formal ceremony at his official residence, where he unveiled the notification for the UCC, outlined its rules and regulations, and launched an online portal for the mandatory registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships.

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The new law aims to standardise personal laws related to marriage, divorce, and property across all religions, ensuring equal legal rights for all citizens while excluding those from the Scheduled Tribe community.

“The UCC has now come into effect, and with it, the BJP has fulfilled all its major ideological commitments, including the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the illegalisation of triple talaq, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya,” Dhami declared, emphasising that the law would create a more equal society by eliminating legal discriminations based on caste, religion, or community.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the implementation of the UCC was not intended to target any specific religion or community, but rather to create uniformity in legal rights for all citizens. He assured that the UCC would not interfere with the cultural practices or marital rituals of any community.

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Dhami also clarified the exclusion of the Scheduled Tribes from the law stating that the unique social and marital customs of these communities would be respected.

Further addressing concerns about privacy, particularly regarding the mandatory registration of live-in relationships, Dhami explained that the registration was aimed at safeguarding women and preventing abuse. He cited the tragic 2022 case of Shraddha Walkar, who was allegedly murdered by her live-in partner, as an example of the potential dangers of unregistered relationships.

The UCC has been positioned as a key fulfillment of a promise made by the BJP ahead of the 2022 assembly elections, where the party won a second consecutive term in power. Dhami acknowledged the overwhelming support of the people of Uttarakhand, noting that it had been nearly three years since he made the commitment to bring in the UCC, and the law was now a reality.

India then beat Korea 3-1 before eking out a narrow 2-1 win over arch-rivals Pakistan.

In the first match, Haryana thrashed Rajasthan 6-1. Rohit Rana (2nd minute), Sunil Maan (11th), Sahil Ruhal (17th) and Ami Khasa (60th) scored one goal each, while Navraj Singh (7th, 37th) struck a brace for Haryana.

VP Dhankhar slams those opposing UCC

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, speaking at the Rajya Sabha Internship Programme, praised Uttarakhand’s move as a “very auspicious sign.” Dhankhar, who also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, asserted that the implementation of the UCC in Uttarakhand would eventually inspire the rest of the country to adopt similar legislation.

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“The Uniform Civil Code is not just a matter of law but a matter of constitutional mandate,” Dhankhar said, referencing Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which calls for a common civil code for all citizens. “I am confident it will only be a matter of time before the entire country adopts a similar legislation. It is a step towards gender equality.”

While expressing support for the UCC22win, Dhankhar criticized those opposing the move, labeling their objections as stemming from "ignorance." He questioned why anyone would oppose something that was aligned with the vision of India’s founding fathers and designed to ensure equality for all citizens.