Uttarakhand UCC explained: How it will change marriage, divorce and more
Uttarakhand is poised to be the first state in India to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a comprehensive legal reform that aims to bring equality and uniformity in laws across various communities. As the state prepares for this transformative change, the launch of the UCC Portal on Monday by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at 12:30 pm let's take a look of the changes the UCC will bring and how the portal will function.
What changes will UCC bring?
1. Equal marriage laws
The UCC will ensure that the marriageable age for men and women is equal across all communities, promoting gender parity. Additionally, the UCC will streamline divorce laws, creating uniform grounds for divorce and simplifying the procedure across all religions.
2. Gender equality and child legitimacy
Under the UCC, all children will be considered legitimate, including those born of void or voidable marriages. The term "illegitimate" will be abolished entirely, ensuring that all children inherit equal rights, regardless of their parents' marital status.
3. Mandatory registration of marriages and live-in relationships
To bring more transparency, the UCC will require the mandatory registration of all marriages and live-in relationships. This will ensure that every citizen has access to a legal record of their relationship status. With the introduction of an online registration system, the process will be more accessible and convenient.
4. Succession and will preparation
The UCC will simplify the process of preparing wills and managing succession matters, offering a clear and accessible legal framework for inheritance rights.
5. Special provisions for defence personnel
The UCC will introduce a “privileged will” for defence personnel, allowing them to create a will orally or in writing during deployment. This will provide flexibility for military personnel who are often engaged in high-risk activities or deployed in remote locations.
How will UCC portal function:
The UCC Portal will serve as the central platform for all citizens seeking to register marriages, live-in relationships, and other related legal documents. The portal has been designed to streamline the registration process, making it accessible online so citizens can avoid the hassle of visiting government offices.
The portal will facilitate efficient handling of applications, from user registration to final approvals. It will ensure a smoother workflow and quicker turnaround time for UCC-related services.
During a recent mock drill, the portal processed over 3,500 dummy registrations and identified minor technical issues, which have since been addressed to optimize the user experience.
The portal will support Aadhaar-enabled registration, ensuring that citizens' identity is securely verified during the registration process.
Whether registering a marriage or preparing a will, the platform will offer step-by-step guidance, making the entire process seamless for the citizens of Uttarakhand.