Uttarakhand has now become the first state in Independent India to have a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) after President Droupadi Murmu on March 11, 2024, approved its UCC Bill, 2024.
The Uttarakhand State Assembly on February 7, 2024, passed the which promises equal rights in property and inheritance to women aside from banning practices such as Halala, Iddat and Talaq provided under the Muslim Personal Law.
In the presence of different governing laws, the succession rights of women in India, for instance, differ dramatically based on the woman’s religious beliefs. While Hindu daughters have an equal right on their father’s property under the Hindu Succession Act, Muslim daughters’ share in their father’s property is half of that of the sons as prescribed under the Muslim Personal Law.
On February 28, the Bill, which makes registration of live-in relationship mandatory, was approved by the state Lieutenant-Governor and reserved for President’s assent. The provisions of the new law apply not only to Uttarakhand residents but also to those residing outside the state’s borders. However, Scheduled Tribes are exempt from this provision.
“It is a moment of great joy and pride for all the people of the state that the UCC Bill passed by our government in the Uttarakhand Assembly has been approved by the respected President Draupadi Murmu ji today. Certainly, with the implementation of the UCC in the state, along with providing equal rights to all citizens, the oppression of women will also be curbed. #UniformCivilCode will play an important role in promoting harmony by proving the importance of social equality in the state,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote in a post on X.
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