Uttarakhand one-day Assembly session on Feb 5 to pass Uniform Civil Code

The Uttarakhand Assembly has been convened for a special one-day session on February 5 to discuss and pass the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.

Sources said a five-member committee, led by former Supreme Court judge, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, that was set up by the state in May 2022, is expected to hand over its report to the government on February 2 or February 3.

The report is learnt to have placed emphasis on gender equality and equal rights for daughters in ancestral properties. It does not, however, suggest raising the marriageable age of women to 21 years. It has recommended retaining the marriageable age for women at 18 years.

Sources also said once the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passes the UCC, two other BJP ruled states – Gujarat and Assam – will pass more or less a similar Bill in their Legislative Assembly. If everything goes as per plan, three states will have enacted the Uniform Civil Code before the Lok Sabha elections in the next few months.

A note issued on Friday from the Uttarakhand Assembly Secretariat states: “Whereas Honourable Governor, Uttarakhand had summoned the Fifth Vidhan Sabha of Uttarakhand to meet for the second session of the year 2023 at 11AM on Tuesday, the 05th September, 2023, in the Sabha Mandap, Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, Dehradun and which as adjourned sine die on 08th September 2023 in continuation there of the Honourable Speaker of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly again summoned the House from Monday, 5 February, 2024 at 11 am in the Sabha Mandal, Vidhan Sabha, Dehradun.”

Sources indicated it will be a one day session and the House is expected to be adjourned after the Bill is passed. “A similar draft will be discussed and passed by both the Gujarat and Assam assemblies,” the source