Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code: The Uttarakhand government officially rolled out its Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Monday, introducing a comprehensive set of rules and a dedicated portal for citizens to access various services under the new system. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the UCC rules manual and the online application portal at the CM’s camp office in Dehradun.
The Cabinet approved the UCC rules manual on January 20, paving the way for the launch. On January 13, the state government had begun training its officials to familiarize them with the new UCC portal, which aims to streamline legal and civil processes for citizens.
Advanced Digital Services for Citizens and Officials
The newly introduced UCC portal offers a range of user-friendly features, including Aadhaar-based verification for residents and AI-powered translation services in 22 Indian languages. The portal integrates data across over 13 departments and services, such as birth and death registrations and district and high court records. Officials highlighted that the cloud-based system is equipped with disaster recovery measures to ensure data integrity.
According to an official statement, “The government has set separate fees for expedited registration under the Tatkal service. Additionally, the process for registering and terminating live-in relationships has been simplified. A termination application by one partner will require confirmation from the other partner.” The portal also allows citizens to upload and register wills, with provisions for online modification, revalidation, or revival.
Ease of Access in Remote Areas
To ensure wider access, the state government has authorized Common Service Centres (CSCs) to assist with online registration. In remote and mountainous regions where internet connectivity is limited, CSC agents will provide door-to-door services to help citizens complete necessary registrations. In rural areas, Village Panchayat Development Officers have been appointed as sub-registrars, offering a convenient option for locals to access registration services directly within their communities.
Background of UCC Implementation
A five-member expert panel, led by retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, was tasked with framing the Uniform Civil Code Bill. The panel’s report contributed to the passage of the UCC Bill in the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 7, 2024. The President’s assent followed on March 12, 2024, bringing the UCC Act into effect.
Although the government initially aimed to implement the UCC before Uttarakhand’s 24th Foundation Day on November 9, 2024, delays in staff training and finalizing the portal led to the postponement. However, with the launch of the portal and rules manual, the state is now ready to fully implement the provisions of the UCC.
With this new initiative, Uttarakhand is positioning itself as a leader in modernizing civil services and making them more accessible to all residents, regardless of their geographic location.