Uttarakhand Defends Uniform Civil Code Amid Legal Challenges

Uttarakhand Defends Uniform Civil Code Amid Legal Challenges

Last Updated Apr - 03 - 2025, 03:14 PM | Source : Fela News

Uttarakhand government has defended the UCC in response to different petitions challenging in the High Court citing reasons of protecting women and minorities r

The Uttarakhand government has defended the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) of Uttarakhand Act, 2024, in response to petitions challenging it in the High Court. The state argues that the UCC promotes national integration, gender equality, and legal protection for children born out of live-in relationships. It dismisses concerns over privacy, stating that registration of marriages and live-in relationships ensures legal stability and prevents criminal offenses like domestic violence or abandonment.

Citing landmark cases like the Shah Bano case (1985) and the Jose Paulo Coutinho verdict (2019), the affidavit emphasizes that the UCC aligns with constitutional principles. It claims that privacy is not absolute and that legislative policies should guide social reforms. The state reassures that data collected remains secure and is not used for surveillance.

It also asserts its right to apply the law extraterritorially to Uttarakhand natives and highlights that 15 states already mandate marriage registration. While the government sees the UCC as a step towards uniformity, critics argue it risks violating privacy, overrides religious laws which might make minorities apprehensive and exposes vulnerable couples to scrutiny.

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