Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill on February 7, becoming the first Indian state to approve such legislation. As the bill now moves to the Governor for final approval, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami celebrated the Assembly’s decision.
The passing of the UCC bill, which refers to a common set of laws for all Indian citizens, is likely to push other BJP-ruled states to adopt similar legislation.
“This law is of equality, uniformity and equal rights. There were many doubts regarding this but the two-day discussion in the assembly clarified everything. This law is not against anyone,” CM Dhami said in a press conference after the bill was cleared by the Assembly.
Once the Bill gets the governor's consent, Uttarakhand will become the first state after independence to get a common law on marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.
Speaking on the Bill before its passage, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said “it is not an ordinary legislation. The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will create equal laws for men and women across all faiths and will help create a non-partisan and non-discriminatory society,” he said.
“It will especially protect the rights of women and put an end to their exploitation. It fulfills a commitment we had made to the people of the state in the run-up to the 2022 assembly polls," the chief minister added.
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