Committee set up on UCC implementation
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Friday formed a five-member committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to prepare a draft on implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.
The committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, will comprise Pramod Kohli (retd judge), social activist Manu Gaur, retired IAS Shatrughan Singh and Doon University vicechancellor Surekha Dangwal, according to an order issued by the home department.
The panel will examine all relevant laws governing civil affairs of people living in the state and prepare a report on all applicable laws related to marriage, divorce, property rights, succession and adoption among others, people familiar with the matter said.
Announcing the formation of the panel in a Facebook post, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said: “To provide uniformity (in law) to all religious communities and to preserve the culture of Devbhoomi, the land of Gods, an expert committee has been constituted for the implementation of Uniform Civil Code under the chairmanship of Justice Supreme Court (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai, as had been promised in our Sankalp Patra (manifesto) at the time of elections”.
During his campaign for the February 14 assembly elections, Dhami promised the implementation of UCC, if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was voted to power. In its first cabinet meeting after returning to power, the BJP government passed a proposal to implement UCC and announced the formation of an expert panel.
The Congress state general secretary Mathura Dutt Joshi slammed the move. “The government’s priority should have been to create employment avenues for the youth in the state and stop migration but they are busy pushing UCC...”
Hitting back, BJP media-incharge Manveer Singh Chauhan said: “UCC is meant to bring equality in law for religious communities and as such, the Congress should also welcome it. Don’t they want equality in law for all?”