Dehradun/IBNS: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday tabled the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill in the state assembly, in one step closer to establish uniformity in laws across caste and religion, media reports said.

The bill will provide a legal framework for marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance for the residents of the hill state.

If implemented, Uttarakhand will be the first Indian state to implement the law, which was a big poll promise by the ruling BJP in the 2022 assembly elections.

Goa has had this law implemented since Portuguese rule.

Some other states like Assam, Gujarat are also likely to pass the law, which has remained a big poll promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Not against UCC, says Congress

Uttarakhand Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yashpal Arya said the Congress is not against the UCC.

However, he alleged the Dhami government is not following the rules of conduct and trying to suppress the voice of the MLAs.

Arya told ANI, "We are not against it (Uniform Civil Code). The House is governed by the rules of conduct of business but BJP is continuously ignoring it and wants to suppress the voice of the MLAs based on the strength of numbers.

"It is the right of the MLAs to express their views in the House, during Question Hour, whether they have a proposal under Rule 58 or under other rules, they have the right to raise their voices on various issues of the state in the Assembly..."