Uttarakhand CM's Secretary Shailesh Bagauli addresses media briefing on UCC

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], October 23 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at the Media Centre in the Secretariat.
During a media briefing, CM Dhami's Secretary, Shailesh Bagauli, stated, "The UCC manual has been sent to the Legislative Department for training."
On October 18, the Chairman of the Uniform Civil Code Committee, Shatrughan Singh, submitted the final report to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at the state secretariat. CM Dhami noted that the government's first priority upon assuming power was to introduce the UCC.
"I had presented a proposal to the people of the state that once we form the government, our first decision would be to introduce the UCC. I want to credit the people of the state for trusting us with their votes," he said.
Dhami further added that the committee, led by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, submitted its report, following which the bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly on February 7, 2024.
"We formed a committee under the leadership of Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, which submitted its report. Subsequently, the bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly on February 7, 2024. It was then sent to the President for approval, and on March 12, it became law," the CM explained.
Dhami also mentioned that the UCC manual is divided into four sections, and a mobile app has been developed to allow the public to address their queries online.
He stressed that the UCC is not intended to target any community, but is designed for the welfare of the people, ensuring equal laws for everyone.
The Uttarakhand UCC bill addresses laws relating to marriage, divorce, succession, live-in relationships, and related matters. Among its provisions, it mandates the registration of live-in relationships under the law.
The act also enforces a complete ban on child marriage and establishes a uniform process for divorce. It grants equal rights to women of all religions regarding ancestral property. According to the UCC Bill, the minimum age for marriage is set at 18 for women and 21 for men across all communities. Marriage registration is compulsory for all religions, and marriages without registration will be considered invalid. Additionally, no divorce petition can be filed within one year of marriage. (ANI)