Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: One year after the rollout of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand, the state government says concerns over privacy violations have been effectively addressed, with more than five lakh applications processed and not a single complaint reported.Officials said the absence of privacy-related grievances reflects the strength of the digital security framework built into the UCC system. Nearly 100 percent of applications are now being submitted and processed through the UCC portal, making the process completely faceless and eliminating the need for applicants to visit government offices or interact with officials in person.According to the government, robust safeguards ensure that citizens’ personal data remains confidential. Once an application is approved by a competent authority, officials can no longer access the applicant’s private information. The data can only be viewed by the applicant through a verification process, significantly reducing the risk of misuse or identity disclosure.Over the past year, residents have used the UCC platform for a range of services, including marriage and divorce registration, registration of wills, live-in relationship registration and termination of live-in relationships. Officials said certificates are now being issued in an average of five days, saving time and simplifying compliance.Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the implementation of the UCC had answered critics who had raised doubts about privacy and feasibility. “Some people initially tried to create a negative atmosphere around the Uniform Civil Code. Over the past year, its implementation has proved that citizens’ privacy has been fully protected,” he said.Dhami added that the smooth functioning of the UCC across the state reflected good governance and growing public confidence in the digital system underpinning the law.
