'Whole Country Serious About UCC': Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini After Uttarakhand Implementation

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini spoke about implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) nationwide as Uttarakhand became the first state to do so.

File Photo of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini

Source : PTI

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday stated that there is widespread support for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, with ongoing debates surrounding the issue.  

When asked if Haryana would follow Uttarakhand, which became the first state to implement the UCC on Monday, Saini confirmed that the country as a whole is focused on the matter. “The whole country is serious about UCC. Intellectuals are serious about this issue. When all are serious and discussions are taking place on it... When the time comes, we will implement it,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.  

The UCC, which promotes equal laws for every citizen across all religions and standardises personal laws on marriage, divorce, and property, was a key commitment made by the BJP ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand.  

Uniform Civil Code In Uttarakhand

The law came into force in Uttarakhand on Monday after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami unveiled its notification, releasing the rules for its implementation and launching a portal for mandatory online registration of marriages, divorces, and live-in relationships.  

Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024, applies to all residents of the state, regardless of religion, and includes provisions to protect personal rights while regulating laws on marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships. The law also bans polygamy and child marriage but does not apply to Scheduled Tribes or persons and communities protected under specific constitutional provisions.  

The key objectives of the UCC include simplifying and streamlining legal processes related to marriage, ensuring social harmony, and defining clear eligibility criteria for marriage. The law stipulates that both parties should not have a living spouse and must be mentally healthy and capable of consenting to marriage.  

For men, the legal marriage age is set at 21 years, while for women it is 18. Additionally, the UCC mandates marriage registration within 60 days of the ceremony. While non-registration does not invalidate a marriage, marriages performed between March 26, 2010, and the Act’s implementation must be registered within six months.  

Marriages that occurred prior to March 26, 2010, may also be registered if they meet all legal eligibility requirements, though this is not mandatory. Those who have already registered their marriage under existing laws do not need to re-register, but they must acknowledge their previous registration.  

Marriage registration can be completed both online and offline, and the sub-registrar is required to make a decision on the application within 15 days. If the decision is not made in this time frame, the application is automatically forwarded to the registrar. An appeal process is available if an application is rejected, and penalties will be imposed for providing false information.