Uttarakhand

• 27 May 2024

UCC Implementation in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

According to the sources, with the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) expected to be implemented in Uttarakhand by the end of 2024, a facility that will enable live-in and married couples to register their relationship is in the process of being introduced.

• The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the UCC bill on 7^th February 2024.

Key Points

• UCC calls for the registration of live-in relationships just like marriages and states that live-in partners must not be under 18.
  • According to the officials, the training of the government employees will be conducted in both online as well as offline modes.
  • The online registration facility will be beneficial for both government staff as well as the couple since this will reduce the need for visiting the registrar's office several times.
  • However, the parents of the couples aged between 18 and 21 will be informed about their children's live-in relationships.
• The bill that has been passed in the Parliament says that anyone staying in a live-in relationship for more than a month without getting it registered will be punishable with an imprisonment up to three months or a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or both.
  • If a woman in a live-in relationship gets deserted by her partner, she will be entitled to claim maintenance from him for which she may approach a competent court having jurisdiction over the place where they last cohabited.
  • The hill state’s small tribal community is exempted from the proposed law, which also mandates registration of live-in relationships.

Regulatory System for Chardham Pilgrimage

Why in News?

Compelled by the heavy rush of pilgrims, the Uttarakhand Government is set to introduce a regulatory system for the chardham pilgrimage, similar to the 2019 ‘Devasthanam Management Board’ which was abandoned due to protests by the priests.

Key Points

• The government has constituted a special High-Level Committee (HLC) to suggest the constitution of a ‘new authority or institution’ to regulate Chardham and other religious pilgrimages to the state.
• The HLC formed by the state government has been mandated to look into the smooth and uninterrupted regulation of the pilgrimages in Uttarakhand in the future.
  • It will also monitor and regulate the daily flow of devotees in the ongoing Chardham pilgrimage for Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath shrines.

Char Dham Yatra

• Yamunotri Dham:
  • Location: Uttarkashi district.
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Yamuna.
  • River Yamuna is the second-most sacred river in India after River Ganga.
• Gangotri Dham:
  • Location: Uttarkashi district.
  • Dedicated to: Goddess Ganga.
  • Considered the most sacred of all Indian rivers.
• Kedarnath Dham:
  • Location: Rudraprayag district.
  • Dedicated to: Lord Shiva.
  • Situated on the bank of the Mandakini River.
  • One of the 12 Jyotirlingas (divine representations of Lord Shiva) in India.
• Badrinath Dham:
  • Location: Chamoli district.
  • Home to the sacred Badrinarayan Temple.
  • Dedicated to: Lord Vishnu.
  • One of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites.