Amid competing slogans of ‘Jai Siya Ram’ and ‘Jai Shri Ram’, the Uttarakhand legislative assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill without a single negative vote on Wednesday. Everyone on the treasury side, who spoke on the debate about the new legislation, referred to the newly inaugurated Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya. The opposition, meanwhile, responded with ‘Jai Siya Ram’, saying women and ‘matra shakti’ is the point of debate and, therefore, Siya should come before Ram.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami struck a conciliatory note and said the bill was only the first step towards ensuring that all women in the state get their due. “Ramyug has started in India after the construction of the Ayodhya temple. The same is being done by empowering women and ensuring their safety legally as well as socially across India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Uttarakhand can’t stay behind in doing good work and implementing the UCC is an example of that,” he said.
Addressing concerns that the bill will target Muslims, Dhami said there are many examples from different countries like Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Japan, US, Canada, Bangladesh, Indonesia, that have implemented such a uniform civil code.
Congress MLA Birender Jati, during the debate, questioned how the bill is uniform if it is not applicable on everyone. “This bill should be called UUCC – un-uniform civil code. By keeping the tribals out, uniformity has been destroyed… the CM said a committee has been formed to consult tribals… so, if that consultation is on… what is the rush?” he asked.
Congress-led opposition initially asked for the bill to be sent to the standing committee, but did not oppose it at the time of voting.
Live-in provisions dominate debate
The Uttarakhand UCC makes it compulsory for live-in couples in the state to register within one month or face possible imprisonment and fine.
Congress MLA Bhuwan Kapri said the provisions are not well thought out. “The provisions on live-in (relationships) are against privacy, against the Constitution since adults have the right to make an independent choice,” he said.
He added: “This registration process is also against our societal norms… Will anyone marry a woman if she informs during registration that she was in a live-in relationship and now she has broken it off?”
Parliamentary affairs minister Prem Chandra Agarwal replied saying the purpose of the live-in clauses is to ensure that women were not misled. “This registration will prevent people from changing their names to get into a live-in relationship. These clauses will expose such people,” he said.
Leader of the opposition Pritam Singh, however, said there are enforcement issues with the law. “The Supreme Court has said registration of live-in relationships is a foolhardy idea… so, by giving it a legal cover, we are committing hara-kiri. Why should someone marry at all if live-in relationships are being given legal cover… if the children born out of this are legitimate? How will you enforce that Uttarakhand citizens living in another state register themselves?” he asked.
“These days, minor fights between a couple lead to FIR under Section 376 (rape). You are legitimising it,” said BSP MLA Shehzad.
Dhami then intervened to say that the bill is to precisely address this very problem – “sabki suraksha”.
As the assembly passed the bill, celebrations broke out. Jubilant BJP supporters outside the Vidhan Sabha danced to dhol beats as Dhami moved that the bill should be passed. As the chief minister’s cavalcade came out, ecstatic workers escorted him to the main highway in a baraat-like procession with fireworks and dance.
“Yuva CM has ensured his place not just in India, but among world leaders,” a supporter said.
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