India: Uniform Civil Code Bill tabled in Uttarakhand assembly by CM Dhami

Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand 2024 Bill was tabled in the legislature of the north Indian state on Tuesday(Feb 6). Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has pitched the proposed law"for the good of all sections" and has claimed that the move aligns with'Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas' and 'Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat' (together for everyone's development and united, great India)vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dhami called it a moment of pride, adding that Uttarakhand will be the first to move towards implementing Uniform Civil Code.

The bill was tabled during the second day of the ongoing four-day special session of the assembly.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami tables the Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand 2024 Bill in State Assembly, in Dehradun. pic.twitter.com/B1LRzfoC09

On Sunday (Feb 4), the Uttarakhand Cabinet approved the final draft of the UCC, which proposes uniform civil laws for all communities in the state.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Monday that the Uniform Civil Code is in the consultation process and being reviewed by the Law Commission of India.

"This is not just the issue of the Centre; the makers of the Constitution had discussed this even when the Constitution was being made...Right now, this matter is under consideration with the Law Commission of India and is in the consultation process. The states can fix it or improve it, and the government of Goa has already worked on UCC. The Uttarakhand government has approved this in the cabinet and as soon as we get a report by the Law Commission, we will inform you..." said Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

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Retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai headed the government-appointed panel which drafted a four-volume, 749-page report that contains many recommendations.

'Vande Mataram'and 'Jai Shri Ram' (Glory to the motherland and Hail Lord Ram) slogans were raised by MLAs inside State Assembly shortly after CM Pushkar Dhami tabled the bill.

(With inputs from agencies)