With Assurance to Hear any Infringement of Rights, Nainital HC Clubs All UCC Petitions
Dehradun: Clubbing all the petitions challenging the controversial Uniform Civil Code (UCC) implemented by the Uttarakhand government together, the Nainital High Court has fixed April 1, 2025 as the next date of hearing. However, it has given a slight relief and asked all those affected in the meantime to approach the court if they face any action by the court.
Hearing the petitions filed by individuals and Muslim cleric body Jammait-Ulema-e- Hind, a division bench of Nainital High Court of Chief Justice G..Narender and newly appointed Justice Alok Mahra on Friday stated that they would listen to arguments in the case on April 1, 2025.
Appearing online for Jammiat, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the state of Uttarakhand lacked jurisdiction in bringing such a law which was also violative of Article 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. The state counsel contesting the argument sought time to reply.
Chief Justice G Narendar, addressing Sibal, stated that anyone facing penal action under the UCC could move the court and would be given a hearing.
The High Court had earlier issued notices to the Uttarakhand government returnable in six weeks, seeking its response to the petitions challenging the new law in an earlier petition filled by Alamasuddin Siddiqui, a lawyer and brother of film actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, through advocate Kartekey Hari Gupta.
Sanjay Hegde, senior advocate also appeared in a similar petition filed by Nayeem Quraishy and others of Muslim Sewa Sangathan challenging the new civil code in the state.
The petition by Jammait was filed on behalf of the Nainital district president of the outfit Mohammad Muqim of Haldwani, Tazim Ali of Haridwar, Shoeb Ahmed of Nainital, Hafiz Shah Nazar, Abdul Sattar and Mustqeem of Dehradun. Advocate Arushi Aggarwal had also challenge certain provisions of the Code while advocate Suresh Singh Negi had challenged the provisions on live-in relationships.
The writer is a freelancer based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
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