Uttarakhand took a significant step on January 27, 2025, by implementing the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act 2024. This move aimed to ensure equal rights for women across all societal sections by discontinuing religion-based personal civil laws. Practices like child marriage, polygamy, triple talaq, halala, and iddat were addressed to uphold women’s dignity.
As a member of the Expert Committee for the Uniform Civil Code, contributing to this historic legislation was seen as a privilege. The focus was on securing equal rights for women and addressing existing inequalities among various communities. Following the completion of work on the Uniform Civil Code, the Uttarakhand government formed a Strategic Advisory Committee chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on June 5, 2025.
The Committee’s initial meeting discussed crucial policy matters concerning the state’s interests, emphasizing the need to establish a framework for providing high-quality modern education to future generations. A proposal to prioritize access to quality education for children from sections with limited exposure to modern education, especially those in madrasas, was highlighted. Discussions with IPS officer Abhinav Kumar underscored the importance of reforming minority education for long-term social harmony.
A detailed study of the legislative framework in Uttarakhand, particularly the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act 2016 and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Regulations 2019, was initiated by the Member Secretary and IAS officer Shatrughna Singh. The study revealed operational challenges in madrasas, including a lack of formal recognition and limited educational standards, with only a small percentage of Muslim students enrolled in these institutions.
The need for comprehensive reforms in madrasa education became evident to address the backwardness and radicalism within the Muslim community. While respecting the special privileges granted to minorities under the Indian Constitution, the focus was on improving the quality of education in madrasas. The enactment of the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Act 2025 marked a significant legislative development in minority education, ensuring quality modern education for all minority communities.
