The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Uttarakhand is gearing up to pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill during a special one-day session on February 5. This move comes after a five-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, prepared a report on the matter. The report is expected to be handed over to the government on either February 2 or February 3.
The committee’s report is said to emphasize gender equality and women’s rights, particularly in relation to ancestral properties. However, it does not include any recommendation regarding the marriage age of women. The Uttarakhand Cabinet had previously approved the recommendations of the committee on December 22, setting the stage for the upcoming legislative action.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has indicated that the government is committed to implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state. Speaking about the draft during a recent interaction, Dhami stated, “The draft has been prepared by the draft committee. Soon we will implement this…” His statement aligns with the BJP’s promise to enforce uniform civil laws in Uttarakhand, a commitment made during the 2022 Assembly elections.
The special session on February 5 is expected to witness the tabling and passage of the UCC Bill. The Uttarakhand assembly speaker has issued a notice summoning the session, and the agenda is yet to be officially disclosed. The detailed report from the committee is crucial for informing the legislative process and shaping the discussions during the session.
The UCC drafting committee, headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, consists of retired Delhi High Court judge Pramod Kohli, social activist Manu Gaur, ex-chief secretary and IAS officer Shatrughan Singh, and Doon University Vice-Chancellor Surekha Dangwal. The committee’s tenure has been extended by the government for an additional 15 days to facilitate the completion of its task.
The Uttarakhand government’s push for the Uniform Civil Code has generated both support and criticism. Proponents argue that a common set of civil laws for all citizens, irrespective of their religious affiliations, promotes national integration and upholds the principles of equality and justice. On the other hand, critics express concerns about potential infringement on personal laws and cultural diversity, highlighting the need to respect individual choices and community-specific practices.
The UCC aims to replace the existing personal laws based on religious beliefs with a unified set of laws governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. While the debate around the UCC has been ongoing for decades, the BJP has consistently advocated for its implementation as part of its broader vision for a more integrated and uniform legal framework across the country.
The decision to pass the UCC Bill in Uttarakhand comes amid ongoing discussions and debates at the national level regarding the need for a comprehensive and inclusive civil code. The topic has been a subject of political and legal discourse, with various viewpoints being presented by different sections of society.
The White House, reacting to the news of the first-ever execution in the United States using nitrogen gas, expressed being “deeply troubled” by the method. This execution has sparked a renewed debate on the humaneness of the method, which involves the inmate breathing through a nitrogen-filled face mask. Critics argue that such methods may amount to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
While the controversy surrounding the nitrogen gas execution is distinct from the UCC issue, it reflects the broader discourse on human rights, justice, and the ethical considerations associated with legal actions. The debate around capital punishment and the methods employed underscores the importance of engaging in thoughtful and inclusive discussions when proposing significant legal changes, such as the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code.
