THE Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill was passed on Wednesday in the Uttarakhand Assembly with a comfortable majority during a special session. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, during the debate on the Uniform Civil Code, said on Wednesday that the State Legislature is going to create history with the passing of the Uniform Civil Code and that every citizen of the State is filled with pride. The Uniform Civil Code which proposes similar or uniform laws for all communities, was tabled on Tuesday during the special session by the Chief Minister.

 

“Today, I want to congratulate all the people of the State on this occasion, because today the legislature of our Uttarakhand is going to create history. Being witnesses to this historical moment today, not only this House but every citizen of Uttarakhand is filled with pride. It is a feeling. Our government had promised to bring a uniform civil code to Uttarakhand to realise the mantra of ‘One India, a Better India’,” CM Dhami said. The Chief Minister thanked all Assembly members, including those of Opposition, for sharing their thoughts on the UCC. “The godlike people of the State have given us the opportunity to fulfil this objective; he gave his blessings and gave us a chance to form the Government again. Immediately after the formation of the Government, in the first Cabinet meeting itself, an expert committee was constituted to create a uniform civil code. On May 27, 2022, a five-member committee was constituted under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai.

 

This Jan Samvad Yatra, which started in the border village of Mana, ended in New Delhi after about nine months by conducting 43 Jan Samvad programmes,” CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said. “More than 2.32 lakh suggestions were received. About 10 percent of the families in the State gave their suggestions for the formulation of a law. It is a direct proof of the awareness of the godlike people of our state,” he added. The Chief Minister further asserted that the ‘Ganga’ of equal rights emerging from the House will nurture the lives of the citizens. “Just as the Mother Ganga emerging from this Devbhoomi irrigates all the living beings living on its banks without any discrimination, this Ganga of equal rights emerging from this House will nurture the lives of all our citizens. We will ensure constitutional rights,” he said. CM Dhami stated that the UCC is not an ordinary bill but an ‘outstanding’ one. “It is a dream that is going to become reality and will start in Uttarakhand,” the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, taking potshots at the previous State and Central Governments, CM Dhami said, “A long period of time passed.

 

We celebrated Amrit Mahotsav. But the truth was not accepted even after the Shah Bano case of 1985. The truth for which Shayara Bano struggled for decades... The truth that could have been achieved earlier but was not done for reasons unknown... Why were the attempts to bring about the Uniform Civil Code not made even when there were Governments with full majorities? Why the women not given equal rights? Why was the vote bank kept above the country? Why the differences between the citizens allowed to continue? Why was a valley dug between communities?” The CM added that the Uniform Civil Code Bill can be amended in the future if there is a need to include specific clause. “We can amend UCC (act) in future if there is need to include specific clause,” CM Dhami said.