Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday the UCC (Uniform Civil Code) Bill would be launched and passed throughout the special session of the assembly starting from February 5.
“The Committee has given us the date of 2nd February when they would submit their draft (on UCC) to us. After that, the formalities that are needed to make it a law will be taken up. A meeting of the state cabinet will also be held. We will discuss it there too. The assembly session will begin on 5th February. It is a special session for the UCC. The bill will be introduced during the session and will be passed,” he mentioned whereas talking to reporters.
Earlier on Saturday, Uttarakhand Minister Premchand Agarwal mentioned a debate on the draft of the UCC may happen in the upcoming state assembly session if the government-appointed knowledgeable panel submits it in time.
The state finance and parliamentary affairs minister mentioned one other main topic on the agenda of the four-day session, from February 5 to eight, is the passage of laws granting 10 per cent horizontal reservation to statehood agitationists. Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh as a separate state in 2000.
“We expect the UCC drafting panel to submit its report soon. If we get it in time, a debate on the draft report of the UCC could be on the agenda of this (assembly) session,” he added.
However, the panel headed by retired Supreme Court choose Ranjana Prakash Desai has been given an extension of 15 days and it’s free to submit the draft of the UCC every time it’s prepared or thinks it applicable, the minister mentioned.
Congress’ stand on UCC
On Congress chief Harish Rawat mentioned the UCC is simply an “exercise in futility” and an eyewash as completely different states have completely different views on it.
Rawat had claimed that a number of states have reservations concerning the UCC. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (a senior BJP chief), is in favour of excluding the tribal group from the ambit of the UCC.
“If different states have different UCCs, the very purpose of having a common law for all sections of society across the country will be defeated,” he had mentioned.
(With businesses inputs)
