UCC in Uttarakhand with Stringent Registration Norms

• 14 Jan 2025

Why in News?  

The Uttarakhand government is preparing to implement its Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on 26^th January, 2025, introducing a host of mandatory requirements for registrations related to personal and civil matters.     

Key Points 

• UCC Portal:   
  • Services available on the portal include: 
    • Registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships. 
    • Termination of live-in relationships. 
    • Intestate succession and legal heir declaration. 
    • Testamentary successions. 
    • Complaint registration and appeals in case of rejected applications. 
• Requirements for Various Personal and Civil Matters Include: 
  • Live-in Relationship Registration: 
    • Both existing and new live-in couples must register their relationship. 
    • Applicants must provide details like proof of age, nationality, religion, phone number, and previous relationship status. 
    • Photos and declarations from both partners are mandatory. 
    • Children born in such relationships must be registered within seven days of receiving their birth certificates. 
  • Marriage and Divorce Registration: 
    • Strict requirements for marriages and divorces have been implemented through the UCC portal to promote transparency and accountability. 
  • Testamentary Succession: 
    • Declarants must submit Aadhaar-linked details of themselves, their heirs, and witnesses. 
    • Witnesses are required to upload video recordings of themselves reading the succession declaration to prevent forgery or disputes. 
  • Complaint Mechanism for Marriages and Relationships: 
    • A third party can object to a marriage or live-in relationship through a complaint on the UCC portal. 
    • Verification of such complaints will be carried out by a sub-registrar to counter false allegations. 

Uniform Civil Code (UCC) 

• The Uniform Civil Code refers to a single set of laws governing personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and succession for all citizens of India.   
• The concept of UCC is mentioned in Article 44 of the Indian Constitution as a Directive Principle of State Policy, which states that the state shall endeavor to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout the territory of India.   
  • However, it's important to note that this is not a legally enforceable right but a guiding principle for the state.