Uttarakhand enforces Uniform Civil Code: Key changes for citizens

Uttarakhand has become the second state in India after Goa to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), introducing a uniform framework for marriage, divorce, property, inheritance, and adoption laws for all citizens, regardless of religion. The law, effective today, aims to promote equality among communities while addressing legal disparities.

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The UCC mandates the registration of live-in relationships, with penalties for non-compliance, including jail terms of up to three months or fines of up to ₹25,000. For individuals under 21 years in live-in relationships, parental consent is now compulsory. The legal minimum marriage age remains 21 for men and 18 for women, emphasizing the importance of education before marriage.

The Code also bans practices like polygamy, child marriage, triple talaq, nikah halala, and iddat, establishing a uniform divorce process across communities. Additionally, children born out of live-in relationships are recognized as legitimate and granted equal inheritance rights, ensuring gender-neutral terminology by referring to offspring as “child.”

Inheritance laws now guarantee equal rights for sons and daughters, promoting equality in property distribution. However, the new law excludes Scheduled Tribes from its purview.

The UCC, a key BJP promise in the 2022 elections, is expected to bring legal uniformity and enhance social equity across Uttarakhand, setting a precedent for other Indian states.