Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Bill 2024
Article 44 of our Constitution defines a uniform civil code as the state’s obligation to ensure that all Indian citizens have access to one across the country. What exactly is the Uniform Civil Code, one can ask now? It is the collective body of laws that governs all Indian citizens and is meant to take the role of individual laws (based on religious scriptures and customs).
Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand – Highlights
- The Uniform Civil Code will mark the fulfillment of major promises made by the ruling party to the people of the state. Some of the key highlights of Uttarakhand UCC are:
- For men, the legal age of marriage is 21, and for women, it is 18. Men should not have a living wife at the time of marriage, and women should have a living husband. Also, both partners should be mentally fit.
- It will be unlawful to marry in certain situations, such as involving the father, mother, grandpa, and grandmother’s direct relatives.
- All marriages must be legally recognized within sixty days. If false information is provided on the marriage registration, there will be three months in jail and a ₹25,000 fine. Also, one has to pay a ₹10,000 fine if the marriage is not registered.
- Without a court order, a marriage cannot be dissolved and the offender will be sentenced to three years. Whereas, if a marriage is performed outside of the terms outlined under UCC, there could be a six-month jail prison and a fine of up to ₹50,000.
- The decree must be issued within sixty days of the divorce plea being filed in one of the designated courts. Maintenance and alimony will be payable to both men and women. Also, the high court allows appeals in cases when family court orders are issued without consent.
- Every live-in relationship must register with the registering authority that the law notifies. Live-in partnerships that fall under forbidden categories or in which one partner is married will not be permitted. Children from living couples are entitled to all legal protections.
- If the live-in arrangement is terminated, the registrar must be notified; following that, the other partner will be notified. If a guy in a live-in relationship flees, he will be responsible for the woman’s maintenance, as determined by the appropriate authorities.
- An equal portion of the property will go to the deceased person’s immediate family if there is no registered will. The property would be equally divided among the second line, which would be the deceased person’s immediate first cousins on the paternal side if there are no immediate relatives. Others would be invited to stake a claim to the property if there isn’t a claimant.
- Equal property rights will be granted to sons and daughters, and the law includes specific safeguards for the Hindu United Family (HUF). The state government will designate a decision-maker to determine how the property will be divided between claimants.