Uttarakhand UCC: Amended Ordinance Implemented with Key Reforms

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 has been enacted with immediate effect following approval from Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmeet Singh (Retd.). The ordinance introduces significant reforms to strengthen the provisions of the UCC, particularly regarding marriages and live-in relationships.

Major Reforms and Provisions
The amendments, numbering nearly a dozen, aim to make the UCC more clear, effective, and practical while enhancing administrative efficiency and protecting citizens’ rights. Key provisions include:

• Misrepresentation of identity at the time of marriage is now a ground for annulment.
• Strict punitive measures for coercion, fraud, or unlawful acts in marriages and live-in relationships.
• Registrars are empowered to issue termination certificates for dissolved live-in relationships.
• The term “widow” has been replaced with “spouse” in official records.
• The Registrar General is granted authority to cancel registrations related to marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, and inheritance.
• Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 has been replaced with the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023, and the Indian Justice Code, 2023 for penal provisions.
• Cases where sub-registrars fail to act within prescribed timelines will automatically be escalated to the Registrar and Registrar General.
• Sub-registrars can appeal penalties imposed on them, with fines recoverable as land revenue.

Historical Significance
Uttarakhand is the first state in independent India to implement the UCC. The original code was enacted on January 27, 2025, marking a historic milestone in the state’s legal framework. The amendment ordinance further strengthens the law, ensuring better governance, clarity, and protection of citizen rights.