Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha
- Recently, a private member’s bill on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
- In this Bill, provision has been made for consultation on the constitution of the National Inspection and Investigation Committee for preparing the Uniform Civil Code and implementing it throughout the territory of India.
- Its purpose is to end the personal laws of different religions. These laws currently govern interfaith relations and related matters within diverse religious communities.
- Uniform Civil Code refers to creating a single law, which is equally applicable to all citizens of India in personal matters such as marriage, divorce, guardianship, adoption and inheritance matters.
Arguments in favor of Uniform Civil Code
- This will promote national integration.
- It will simplify the existing separate laws made on the basis of religious beliefs.
- Judicial decisions can be implemented. Decisions like Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shahbano Begum, 1985 could not be implemented due to personal law.
- Strengthen the concept of gender justice, as most religious or customary personal laws are biased towards men.
Arguments against Uniform Civil Code
- ‘Personal Law’ is a subject of the Concurrent List. Therefore, it is not the exclusive jurisdiction of the Parliament to make laws on it.
- It is against the spirit of Article 25 (fundamental right to freedom of religion of the individual), Article 29 (right to protection of special culture).
- It is against the diversity of the country.
About Uniform Civil Code
- Uniform Civil Code is discussed in Article 44 of Part IV of the Constitution (Directive Principles of State Policy). This article states that ‘the State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India’.
- Uniform Civil Code is a uniform law for every citizen of the country, irrespective of religion or caste.
- In the Uniform Civil Code, the same law applies to all religions in matters of marriage, divorce and division of property etc.
- In the current situation in the country, there are different rules for all religions. The rules of property, marriage and divorce are different for Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
- At present, people of many religions in the country follow their personal laws in marriage, property and adoption etc.
- Muslim, Christian and Zoroastrian communities have their own personal laws, while Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists come under Hindu Civil Law.
Source – The Hindu
