New Delhi

Uttarakhand is making significant strides towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh approved a four-member Implementation Committee on Tuesday. The committee will be led by retired IAS officer Shatrughan Singh and includes notable members such as Prof. Surekha Dangwal, Vice-Chancellor of Doon University; Manu Gaur, President of TAXAB and a prominent social activist; Amit Sinha, Additional Director General of Police (Uttarakhand); and Ajay Mishra, Resident Commissioner.

This panel is tasked with organizing the rollout of the UCC, which is expected to take place on November 9, coinciding with the state’s Foundation Day. The UCC aims to establish a unified set of personal laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all residents, regardless of their religion or caste.

Last week, the committee also submitted draft rules for UCC implementation to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami. These rules outline processes for marriage and divorce registrations, birth and death certifications, and the handling of live-in relationships. The UCC prohibits child marriages and standardizes divorce procedures.

The UCC Bill was introduced in the legislative assembly on February 6 and passed the next day, marking a pivotal moment in Uttarakhand’s legal landscape. The UCC, once enacted, will apply to all residents except the tribal community, promoting uniformity in civil laws across the state.