Uttarakhand Set To Implement UCC On 26 January, Mandates Compulsory Registration Of Live-In Relationships With Aadhar Details

Uttarakhand is set to implement the Uniform Civil Code from 26 January onwards and initiated a training program for its officials on Monday (13 January).

The training aims at acquainting them with the UCC portal which will assist in documenting compulsory requirements under like mandatory registration of all live-in relationships similar to marriage, obligatory video recordings of witnesses in testamentary succession cases, and the inclusion of photos and Aadhaar details in all registrations.

The training session, overseen by three sub-divisional magistrates and participated in by 14 officials, is set to conclude on 20 January, The Indian Express, which attended one of these sessions at the Doiwala Block Office in Dehradun, reported.

The UCC portal provides login options for three different user groups – citizens, service centre personnel, and officials. It's necessary to provide Aadhaar details for registration.

The portal provides a variety of services such as marriage, divorce, and live-in relationship registrations, ending of live-in relationships, intestate and testamentary successions, declaration of legal heirs, appeals for rejected applications, access to information, and complaint registration.

An individual who is not part of a marriage or live-in arrangement has the right to lodge a complaint against it. In an effort to combat false information, the responsibility of verifying these complaints falls to a sub-registrar.

For couples cohabitating, whether they've been together for a while or just recently moved in together, it's necessary to input both partners' names, age verification, nationality, religious affiliation, past relationship status, and contact number into the online platform. Importantly, these requirements mirror those for marriage registration.

Two kinds of registration exist for live-in couples - one for those residing in Uttarakhand and another for natives of the state who are living elsewhere within India.

The portal necessitates that partners upload their pictures and a statement. It is mandatory for children born out of these relationships to be registered within a week from the issuance of their birth certificates.

In order for testamentary succession to occur, the individual making the declaration must provide specific details, including their own Aadhaar information as well as that of the heirs and witnesses. Furthermore, the regulations necessitate that two witnesses upload a video of themselves verbally presenting the succession declaration.

Three assistance centers have been established at the state level by the government. The Information Technology Development Agency is tasked with offering technical support, whereas training will be facilitated by the Common Service Centre.

Additionally, the Prosecution Department will be providing legal aid. “Trainees’ feedback will be conveyed to the government, so the draft rules can be modified,” Mukesh further said.