Uniform Civil Code Ordinance Passed by Uttarakhand Assembly

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) ordinance by voice vote on Wednesday.

After getting the governor’s consent for the bill, Uttarakhand will become the first state after Independence to have Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.

The UCC provides for the registration of all marriages, divorce, live-in relationships and successions. It bans polygamy and the practices of Halala and Iddat. A child born of a live-in relationship is considered legitimate, according to the UCC.

Many legislators of the Congress and other Opposition parties stayed away from the special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly called up to pass the UCC.

The Congress didn’t oppose the UCC directly but had demanded that it be referred to a select committee of the House, which was turned down by Speaker Ritu Khaduri.