Uttarakhand’s Governor Sends Bill to President Murmu for Final Approval, Bringing State Nearer to Enacting UCC Law

The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Bill was sent by Raj Bhavan to the President’s office on Thursday, and it is expected to become law in the coming days.

With the permission of President Droupadi Murmu, Uttarakhand would be the next state to adopt the UCC legislation. The law was delivered by the cabinet of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to Governor Gurmit Singh of Uttarakhand, who then sent it to President Murmu for her approval, according to the news agency ANI.

Notably, the state government tabled the bill on February 6. Now that the Raj Bhavan has approved it, the legislative route has cleared the way for the measure to be forwarded to the president for final approval.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister, had said that the state has enacted the Uniform Civil Code Bill after considering a number of considerations. He went on to say that the people of Uttarakhand had endorsed, voted for, and supported the measure.

The Chief Minister referred to the passing of the UCC measure as a “historic day in the history of Uttarakhand” one day after the measure was introduced in the state Assembly.

On February 7, the Uttarakhand Assembly held a special session and comfortably approved the Uniform Civil Code Bill.

UNIFORM CIVIL CODE: WHAT IS IT?
The Uniform Civil Code suggests uniform or comparable legislation for every community in the state. A proposal known as the UCC Bill seeks to create consistent laws governing personal concerns, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and property rights, for all residents.

All citizens will be subject to the UCC on an equal basis, irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender, or religion. One of the non-justiciable guiding principles of state policy outlined in the Constitution is the UCC. While some members of the Constituent Assembly expressed strong support for its mandatory implementation, others voiced worries about possible violations of cultural diversity and religious freedom.

Notably, the Uniform Civil Code was passed by Uttarakhand as the nation’s first autonomous state.