The Uttarakhand government has put into effect the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 immediately after receiving approval from the Governor. This ordinance, sanctioned by the Governor of Uttarakhand, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurmit Singh under Article 213 of the Constitution, is now in effect. It introduces various procedural, administrative, and penal reforms to ensure a smooth and transparent implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Key changes under the UCC amendment include the replacement of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, with the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023, and the substitution of the Indian Penal Code with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for penal provisions. Additionally, the designation of the “Additional Secretary” as the competent authority under Section 12 has been made, and provisions have been established for automatic forwarding of cases to the Registrar and Registrar General if the Sub-Registrar fails to act within the specified timeframe.
The amendment also grants the right to appeal against penalties imposed on Sub-Registrars, with the recovery of such penalties to be conducted as arrears of land revenue. Furthermore, stringent penal measures have been put in place for offenses like force, coercion, fraud, or illegal activities in marriages and live-in relationships. The Registrar is now empowered to issue a termination certificate upon the dissolution of a live-in relationship.
In another change, the term “widow” in Schedule-II has been replaced with “spouse,” and the Registrar General has been given the authority to cancel registrations related to marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, and succession. These amendments aim to enhance the clarity, effectiveness, and practicality of the Uniform Civil Code provisions, improve administrative efficiency, and ensure better protection of citizens’ rights.
