CM Pushkar Singh Dhami: UCC will come into effect in Uttarakhand from next month

He said that the rules of the UCC Act have also been framed, adding that the homework for its implementations was complete, and the training of personnel was underway. Sources said that the UCC rules have been examined by the state’s Law department as well.

According to the statement, Dhami during the meeting said that after the formation of the new government in Uttarakhand in March 2022, it was decided in the first Cabinet meeting to constitute an expert committee to implement UCC in the state.

Later, a five-member expert panel was formed, led by retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, and based on its report, the Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2024, was passed in the Assembly on February 7, 2024. The Act was notified on March 12, 2024 after assent from the President.

“Now, Uttarakhand is fully prepared to implement the UCC from January,” Dhami said, according to the release, which added that the CM instructed officials to provide proper training and facilities to the personnel to implement UCC.

“The Uniform Civil Code Act of Uttarakhand will give a new direction to the society by following the basic spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. This law will open new doors specially for empowerment of women and children of Devbhoomi,” Dhami said, as per the statement.

He added that while on one hand this step will prove to be a milestone in the direction of strengthening social equality and unity, on the other hand, Uttarakhand will also emerge as a pathfinder for other states.

The CM also said that a portal and a mobile app have also been developed to facilitate online registration and appeals, it said.

Earlier, the committee formed to draw up rules for implementing UCC submitted its report to the Dhami government on October 18 this year, following which the government planned to have the UCC in place before November 9 this year, coinciding with the state’s 24th Foundation Day. However, that didn’t happen because training of staff was yet to be completed, sources said.

With the BJP intending to use the Uttarakhand UCC as a role model for other states, sources said the rules template has been framed keeping this in mind.