Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code: Ban On Halala, Polygamy Being Considered; Marriageable Age Of Girls To Be Raised

The panel formed by the Uttarakhand government of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is likely to submit its final report by the month-end.

The Uttarakhand UCC panel in its report is likely to suggest raising the marriageable age of girls.

Further, the committee led by former Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai is reportedly also considering banning the traditions like 'halala' and 'iddat'.

The committee has been seeking suggestions on the draft UCC from the citizens of Uttarakhand, even those who live outside the state.

One of the crucial suggestions received by the committee pertains to compensation for the parents of an employed son in the event of his untimely demise, even if his wife chooses to remarry.

Shatrughan Singh, a member of the Uttarakhand's UCC drafting committee and former IAS officer, shed light on the discussions taking place.

"The committee has also received suggestions that in case of death of an employed son, his parents are eligible for compensation apart from his wife.  Even if the wife re-marries, then also they should have a share in the compensation received on the death of the husband," Singh was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

“In such a case, if the wife dies, her parents have no support, and then the responsibility of their maintenance should be with the husband. The committee is also brainstorming on all these suggestions,” he added.

According to media reports, the suggestions received by the UCC panel includes ban on polygamy, declaration of Live-In relationship and parents informed, girls to get equal share in ancestral property, adoption for all, and application of equal grounds for divorce to both husband and wife.