UCC in Uttarakhand Gets President's Assent

• 14 Mar 2024

Why in News?

The Uniform Civil Code Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly has become a law with President Droupadi Murmu giving her assent to it.

• Uttarakhand is the first state in the country after Independence to adopt the UCC.

Key Points

• The President gave her assent to the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand, 2024 under Article 201 of the Constitution of India.
• UCC will play an important role in promoting harmony by proving the importance of social equality.
• With its implementation in the state alongside providing equal rights to all citizens, the oppression of women will also be curbed.

Uniform Civil Code

• The Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• These principles are not legally enforceable but are meant to guide the state in making policies.
  • It has been supported by some as a way to promote national integration and gender justice, but opposed by others as a threat to religious freedom and diversity.
• The only state in India that has a UCC is Goa, which retained its common family law known as the Goa Civil Code after it was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961.
• The rest of India follows different personal laws based on their religious or community identity.

Article 201

• It states that when a Bill is reserved for the consideration of the President, the President may assent to or withhold assent from the Bill.
• The President may also direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or Houses of the Legislature of the State for reconsideration.