Uttarakhand HC issues notice to state govt and Centre over pleas challenging UCC rollout

The division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice G Narender and Justice Ashish Naithani has asked the State and Centre for their responses in six weeks' time.

Almasuddin Siddiqui and Ikram - two of the petitioners - filed the plea claiming UCC violates the fundamental rights of the Muslim community and other citizens guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India as well as the essential religious practices of the community, Live Law reported.

Former student leader Suresh Singh Negi, another petitioner, has challenged several provisions including the ones related to live-in relationships in UCC.

The provisions concerning marriage, divorce, live-in relationships were also flagged in her plea filed by Aarushi Gupta anticipating infringement of fundamental rights of the citizens.

On January 27, Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to roll out UCC.

A portal for UCC was also launched by Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

On rolling out UCC, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had said, "The beginning of a new era of equality and harmony!" With the implementation of UCC, practices like Halala, polygamy, child marriage, triple talaq will be stopped, said Dhami.

"Women's empowerment will be ensured in the true sense," Dhami had said.

Some of the key points of UCC

1. Minimum age for marriage is 21 for boys and 18 years for girls
2. Second marriage not allowed when husband or wife is alive
3. Daughters have equal property rights across religions and communities
4. Registration for live-in relationships mandatory
5. Children born through live-in relationships will also have equal rights in property