Dhami highlights tough laws, growth push at lawyers’ meet

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday interacted with expatriate Uttarakhandi lawyers at Uttarakhand Niwas in the national capital as part of the state’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. During the meeting, he held detailed discussions with the legal community on the state’s development roadmap and highlighted key policy and governance initiatives undertaken by his government.

Dhami said the state has implemented several “historic and stringent” laws in the larger public interest, positioning Uttarakhand as the first state in the country to enforce a Uniform Civil Code. He added the government has introduced the nation’s most rigorous anti-cheating law to ensure transparency in recruitment examinations. “As a result, more than 26,500 youth have secured government jobs and over 100 members of cheating mafias have been sent to jail,” he said.

Emphasising efforts to safeguard cultural values and demographic balance, the Chief Minister said the state has enforced strict anti-conversion and anti-rioting laws. Under ‘Operation Kalnemi’, he said, action against illegal activities and land encroachments has led to the freeing of over 10,000 acres of government land, closure of around 300 illegal madrasas, and demolition of more than 1,000 unauthorised structures. He added that the Madrasa Board has been dissolved and institutions that do not teach the government-approved syllabus will face closure under the new law.

He highlighted the state’s progress in industrial and economic development, noting that Uttarakhand successfully hosted G20 meetings and secured MoUs worth Rs 3.56 lakh crore during the Global Investors Summit. “Within a year and a half, projects worth over Rs 1 lakh crore have already taken shape on the ground,” he said.

Referring to national assessments, Dhami said Uttarakhand secured 79 points in NITI Aayog’s 2023–24 report, placing it among the top-performing states. The state also received the ‘Top Achievers’ award in five key reform categories under the Business Reform Action Plan 2024, and ranked second among Himalayan states in financial performance.

The Chief Minister noted significant achievements in the tourism sector as well. Despite natural disasters, nearly 51 lakh pilgrims completed the Char Dham Yatra this year. The government has introduced a “Winter Yatra” initiative to promote tourism beyond the traditional pilgrimage season and is expanding connectivity through railway projects, ropeways and new heliports. Dhami said the state is advancing with a policy framework focused on “ecology, economy and technology.”

Speaking on youth empowerment, he said Uttarakhand performed strongly in the 38th National Games, winning 103 medals and ranking seventh. The government is providing athletes with training, equipment, incentives and upgraded sports facilities.

Marking 25 years of Uttarakhand’s formation, Dhami said the state has successfully completed its initial development journey and must now lay out a vision for the next 25 years. He urged members of the legal fraternity to share their insights and recommendations to strengthen the state’s policies and governance. “With the support of the legal community, Uttarakhand will emerge as a model state that inspires the nation in justice, development and good governance,” he said.