Uttarakhand Implements Uniform Civil Code: Protecting Privacy and Involving Parents

A panel drafting rules for Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aims to safeguard data of live-in couples while recommending parental notification for couples aged 18-21. The UCC, passed in February, requires mandatory registration of marriages and live-in relationships. The committee, led by Shatrughna Singh, is advanced in its implementation efforts.

A panel responsible for drafting rules for Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is making strides to ensure data provided by live-in couples remains safeguarded. However, for couples aged 18 to 21, the panel believes parents should be informed for safety reasons, despite potential privacy concerns.

The expert committee's report on the UCC, headed by Shatrughna Singh, was uploaded online after delays due to the model code of conduct. This UCC bill, now law, makes registration mandatory for marriages and live-in relationships in Uttarakhand. The state is the first in India to adopt such a measure post-Independence.

Singh assured the public that data for couples above 21 would remain protected. The rules-making and implementation committee is in the final stages of coding rules, aiming for completion soon. Singh acknowledged the urgency following Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's statement targeting UCC implementation by October.

(With inputs from agencies.)