In a resounding endorsement of Uttarakhand’s trailblazing Uniform Civil Code, draft committee member Manu Gaur declared it a bedrock for replication nationwide. Speaking to media in Dehradun, Gaur pointed to Gujarat’s latest developments as validation.
A committee led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai submitted its detailed UCC report to the Gujarat government this week. The blueprint closely echoes Uttarakhand’s, signaling a domino effect in legal reforms.
‘Uttarakhand’s UCC, born from rigorous debates and public engagement, has thrived for over 12 months,’ Gaur explained. ‘It’s no surprise it’s becoming the gold standard—Gujarat has adopted identical structures for marriage, divorce, and live-in partnerships.’
Key alignments include uniform marriage ages, women’s inheritance rights, formalized dispute mechanisms, and bans on regressive customs like halala, now punishable offenses. ‘These aren’t coincidences; they’re deliberate adoptions of proven reforms,’ Gaur added.
Gaur’s confidence stems from Uttarakhand’s seamless rollout in the ‘Devbhoomi’ state. ‘This initiative from our hills will ripple across India,’ he predicted, urging other states to advance and anticipating a central legislation soon.
With Gujarat’s move, the push for a unified civil framework gains momentum, promising gender justice and legal clarity for millions.