PNS | DEHRADUN
Several advocates protested at the collectorate in Dehradun on Friday against the provisions of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) related to online marriage registration, online registration of wills and the paperless land registry system. The advocates raised slogans against the State government, claiming they will intensify the protest. They also refrained from work in the Registrar’s office on Friday. The protestors expressed concerns about their role being removed from these legal processes and claimed that it will adversely affect their livelihood.
The president of Dehradun Bar Association Rajeev Sharma stated that under the UCC, marriages are being registered online and wills are being considered valid through online video verification. He said that many advocates were involved in these processes but the shift to an online system will affect their profession. He said, “The government should have consulted the legal community before making such changes to ensure a balanced approach. The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently spoke about implementing a paperless registry system, which will further reduce the role of advocates. It will also affect the livelihood of stamp vendors and other employees associated with the registration process apart from the advocates. Payments for stamps and other fees will also be made online which will impact many people,” he said.
Sharma said that while some believe online land registration will reduce fraud, online scams are also occurring and can have serious consequences. Sharma claimed that the government is trying to replicate the registry process like Maharashtra but they should understand that Uttarakhand’s geography is quite different. He also stated that the government is now relying more on common service centre operators and cyber cafes instead of advocates. Sharma warned that if the government does not consider their concerns, they will intensify their protest and will not allow work at the registrar’s office or courts.
