Pushkar Singh Dhami sparks BJP, Congress clashes with Uniform Civil Code proposal in Uttarakhand assembly
On Sunday, the leaders in charge of Uttarakhand agreed to the UCC panel’s first version of a report. This happened a few days after a group of five people on the UCC committee gave the report to the head of the state government.
In Dehradun, today, Uttarakhand’s chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami plans to present the Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand, 2024, bill to the state’s assembly. This proposed law aims to introduce shared civil regulations for marriage and inheritance, replacing individual religious laws. It was a significant pledge made by the BJP in their manifesto for the 2022 assembly elections.
On Sunday, the Uttarakhand Cabinet gave the green light to the draft report prepared by the UCC panel. This decision came just two days after the five-member UCC committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, handed over the document to the chief minister.
The bill is anticipated to pass smoothly in the assembly due to the ruling BJP’s substantial majority with 47 out of 70 members. After passing in the assembly, the legislation will proceed to the governor, who is the state’s constitutional head. Upon the governor’s approval, it will be enacted into law.
The special session of the Uttarakhand assembly convened specifically for the introduction of the bill is likely to witness heated exchanges between the BJP and the opposition Congress. On Monday, the opening day of the session, Congress MLAs demonstrated their intentions by walking out of a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee in protest against the decision to forgo the Question Hour.
Reacting to the protest, Uttarakhand assembly Speaker Ritu Khandari stated on Monday that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) holds significance for the entire nation. “While the Question Hour is also important, there are occasions when matters of great importance take precedence over regular House procedures,” she remarked.
Following this, Congress MLAs submitted a letter to the Speaker, raising concerns about the legality of waiving the Question Hour on technical grounds. They also argued that the current session cannot be designated as a special session as the preceding session of the House had not been formally adjourned.
Dhami praised the bill, expressing his anticipation ahead of the session, stating that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will benefit all segments of society.
“The UCC has been eagerly awaited not only in Uttarakhand but throughout the country. The wait will be over when it’s presented in the state assembly on Tuesday. The manner in which the bill is introduced and passed in this House will be closely observed nationwide,” remarked Dhami.
A debate on the bill is scheduled to take place in the house on Tuesday.
In the meantime, Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Union Minister for Law and Justice, announced on Monday that the Law Commission of India is currently reassessing the necessity for the Uniform Civil Code.
“This isn’t solely a concern for the Central government; even during the drafting of the Constitution, it was deliberated upon. Currently, it’s undergoing review by the Law Commission of India and is in the consultation phase. States have the authority to address or enhance it, as demonstrated by the efforts of the Goa government regarding the UCC. Uttarakhand’s government has endorsed it in the cabinet, and once we receive feedback from the Law Commission, we’ll provide updates,” he stated.
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