The Uttarakhand Government is ready with its draft of Uniform Civil Code. The state givernement has preapred the draft to present in the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly. This move had fulfilled the promise made by BJP to the people of the state. The move comes ahead of the Central Governments’ Draft on the same issue.
Proposed Clauses in the State’s UCC:
The UCC is a proposed legal framework that aims to replace personal laws based on religious practices and customs with a common set of civil laws. This framework will be applicable to all citizens of Uttarakhand irrespective of their religious leaning.
The state governemnt propses that the UCC will promotes equality, social justice, and gender justice by eliminating discriminatory practices embedded in personal laws.
The UCC draft has the following clauses:
- Marriageble age of girls increased from 18 to 21. Most women belonging to the lower economic strata of India are pushed into marriage right after they complete their school education. Addtionally, young women are enticed into romance and marriage just as they step into the age of majority. Thus, the law gives yound women breathing time to understand and experience the world.
- Marriage Registration is mandatory. This will leagalize the staus of Indian wives. It will protect women from predators who lie about their name, religion, and marital status. Also, it will help the government identify family dynamics in India.
- The oppressive preactive of iddat and halala would be discontinued. It shall help Muslim women to increased freedom from supproive and orthodox practices of Islam. Most Muslim marrital dispute arise from these clauses.
- Polygamy will be prohibuted and criminalized. The Muslim wives shall have a greater status in their marriages. It will restrict Muslim marriages to one wife irrespective. It allows them a greater hope of happiness and security in the marriage.
- Women and Men both will be able to file for divorce irrespective of their religion. This enhances the status women. It shall grant them the freedom to live their lives with confidence and security.
- Restictions to the maximum number of children is also proposed.
The argue that it promotes national integration, fosters a sense of unity among diverse communities, and ensures equal rights and protections for all citizens, regardless of their religious background. Supporters believe that a common civil code would streamline legal processes and promote a more inclusive and harmonious society.