Justice (retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai stated on Friday that the proposed Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand has been finalized and, if put into practice, the committee’s recommendations will strengthen the secular fabric of society and empower women.
She added that there has been “overwhelming” support for the idea of a uniform civil code.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in Uttarakhand shortly after Desai stated that the draft was prepared to be submitted to the state government.
Desai, who is in charge of the committee of experts formed by the government of Uttarakhand last year, claimed that the panel looked at numerous statutes and uncodified regulations, including the statutory framework in a few countries and created the code while taking into account all points of view.
“Our focus is on ensuring gender equality while keeping women, children, and people with disabilities in mind,” she told reporters. “We have attempted to put everyone on an equal basis by eliminating arbitrariness and prejudice. The committee has reviewed existing laws in numerous countries, including Muslim countries.
“We have examined personal laws and seen everything. We have also read the Law Commission’s report. You will feel that the committee has taken everything into account after reading our draft,” she claimed.
If put into practice, the draft “will strengthen the secular fabric of our country.”
According to Desai, the committee convened for the first time on July 4 of last year in Delhi and has since met 63 times.
Additionally, the committee has made an effort to comprehend the “finer nuances” of the diverse customs practiced in different regions of Uttarakhand.
Desai said at a news briefing, “It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the drafting of the proposed Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand is now complete.”
The committee’s report and the draft code will shortly be produced and given to the Uttarakhand government, she continued.
In May of last year, the Uttarakhand government established a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to review the various laws governing the personal civil matters of state residents and to draft new legislation or make amendments to existing legislation on issues like marriage, divorce, property rights, succession, inheritance, adoption, maintenance, custody, and guardianship.
This was announced on May 27, 2022, and the terms of reference were announced on June 10 of the previous year.
In response to the question, Desai steadfastly declined to share any information regarding the draft UCC or the committee’s report, stating that the state government must be consulted first.
According to her, a subcommittee was established last year to solicit public input through written submissions and public debate sessions.
According to Desai, the subcommittee started its public outreach program in the border tribal village of Mana and visited 40 different locations throughout Uttarakhand, covering all the districts.
On June 14, a public discussion with participation from Uttarakhand residents living in Delhi and the national capital region took place in Delhi.
She stated that the subcommittee held 143 meetings in Dehradun and other locations. Desai added that the group also spoke with leaders of different religious denominations as well as representatives of political parties and state statutory commissions.
“While the sub-committee interacted with about 20,000 people during the public consultation exercise, the committee received a total of 2.31 lakh written submissions from people,” she added.
On June 2 in Delhi, according to Desai, the Uttarakhand UCC group also interacted with the Law Commission’s chairperson and members.
“A discussion with the members of the Expert Committee was requested by the chairperson of the Law Commission of India. Members of the Law Commission and the Expert Committee, as well as
their chairs, were present for this engagement on June 2,” she informed the press.
The committee was given a longer deadline, and Dhami recently declared that the report would be submitted by June 30.
Recently, the Law Commission resolved to take action on the matter and reexamine the necessity for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), while also soliciting opinions from diverse stakeholders, such as members of the public and religious organizations.
One of the BJP’s main platforms is the UCC, and some of its state administrations have pushed for its implementation.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a compelling case for it, sparking rumours that the Centre is also seeking to pass legislation making it the national standard.
