Uttarakhand Waqf Board has taken a big decision. The Waqf Board will now issue a new Nikahnama, which will mention only one Nikah. Anyone who marries more than once will face punishment. Maulana will not perform second Nikah for anyone now. The decision was taken after the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state.
Now, there will be no column or mention of second, third or fourth marriage in Nikahnama. Further, those performing Nikah ceremonies in all mosques will have to follow the decision of the Waqf Board. Under the rules of the Uttarakhand Waqf Board and the UCC, only one marriage will be allowed at a time. If a man tries to marry his first wife while his first wife is still alive or tries to marry another without a legal divorce, the Maulvi will not perform the ceremony, and doing so will result in legal punishment. Meanwhile, the government is developing a new system to make the marriage registration system transparent and robust in Uttarakhand. Under this, only clerics registered in the state could marry. In addition, government registration of marriage contracts will also be made mandatory.
It is noteworthy that UCC is being widely discussed across the country. Some states have already implemented it, while others are in the process of implementing it. Uttarakhand implemented the UCC in January 2025, making it the first state in the country to do so. This move by the Uttarakhand government is historic, as it will provide a single law for all citizens of the state, ensuring a sense of equality. The Act will give a new identity to the state in the country and further the development of social and legal justice.