UCC Roll-Out, Strict Land Laws: What 2025 Holds for the Himalayan State

Uttarakhand has a lot on its plate in 2025, be it the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) law, framing of strict land law amid protests, forming Uttarakhand Development Yatra Authority to deal with issues related to pilgrimages and hosting the 38th national games.

- Neeraj Santoshi

DEHRADUN:

Implementing UCC in January Uttarakhand government has plans to implement UCC in January, which is the most anticipated development in the state in the new year. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on December 18 announced that UCC will be implemented in the state from January 2025, saying "All preparations have been completed in this regard".

"Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code after Independence. The Uniform Civil Code law of Uttarakhand, following the basic spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas (with everyone's cooperation, with everyone's development and with everyone's trust), will give a new direction to the society," he added. For accessibility of the general public, a portal and mobile app have also been prepared for the smooth implementation of UCC. On October 18, UCC legislation Rules Making and Implementation Committee had submitted its draft report on UCC rules to the chief minister. UCC refers to a common set of laws that will subsume customary laws across faiths and tribes and govern issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and maintenance. In the Constitution, it is a part of the non-justiciable directive principles of state policy. State government passed UCC Bill 2024 on February 7, based on the report submitted by expert committee on UCC, headed by retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to the state government on February 2. Subsequently state government formed a committee headed by Shatrughan Singh, retired Chief Secretary (chairperson) on February 10 for preparing the draft of the rules for UCC Bill. On March 13, state government stated President approved it.