Uniform Civil Code – Plurality Vs Uniformity
Dealing with a batch of petitions concerning an interfaith marriage undertaken by the petitioners and seeking protection from the Court, the Allahabad High Court asked the Central Government to execute the mandate of Article 44 of the Constitution of India [Uniform Civil Code]. The Bench of Justice Suneet Kumar noted that the issue of UCC, even though Constitutional, takes political overturns whenever raised or discussed in the public domain and demanded its implementation due to a multiplicity of marriage and family laws in place.
What is the Uniform Civil Code?
The UCC in India aims at replacing the personal laws based on the customs and scriptures of each religious community with a common code or law governing every citizen.
Why India needs Uniform Civil Code? (Pros)
- Nature of India– A secular republic like India needs a common law for all citizens rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices.
- Gender Parity – The rights of women are generally restricted under religious law, be it Hindu or Muslim. Triple talaq, priority given to men in terms of succession and inheritance are some examples.
- Uphold rights – Many practices governed by religious tradition are contrary to the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Indian constitution.
- Judicial orders – Courts have also opined that the government should move towards a Uniform Civil Code. For example – the Shah Bano case.
- Constitutional mandate – The constitution has a provision for the Uniform Civil Code in Article 44 as a Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSP) which mentions that “The State shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”. But DPSP cannot be enforced by the court. However, the legislature can enforce UCC by enacting a law.
- National Integration – UCC would make the dream of “One Nation, One Law” come true. India believes in one nation and hence no community shall claim separate religious laws. In this way, it’ll promote national integration.
- Young people’ aspirations – 55% of India’s population is comprised of people below 25% years of age. Their social attitudes and aspirations are based on universal principles of humanity, equality, and modernity. In order to realize their full potential for nation-building, their attitudes and aspirations should be respected.
Why is it not feasible in India? (Cons)
- Practical difficulties – India is a country with diversity in religion, ethnicity, castes, etc. Hence it is practically not feasible to come up with uniform rules for personal issues like marriage due to the cultural diversity. It is also difficult to convince every community to replace their age-old traditions with a new law.
- Violation of religious freedom – UCC is considered by religious minorities as an encroachment on their rights to religious freedom. They fear that their traditional religious practices will be replaced by the rules and diktats of majority religious communities.
- The state should not interfere in personal matters – The constitution provides for the right to freedom of religion of one’s choice. UCC would violate that right.
- Sensitive and difficult task – UCC in its true spirit must be created by borrowing from various personal laws, making gradual changes in each, issuing judicial pronouncements, assuring gender equality, and adopting expansive interpretations on marriage, maintenance, adoption, and succession. These are daunting tasks on human resource-wise. Moreover, the government should be sensitive and unbiased at each stage while dealing with the majority and minority communities. Otherwise, it might lead to communal violence.
- Time is not suitable yet – There are already controversies over the beef ban, saffronization of school and college curriculum, love jihad, etc. At this time, the introduction of UCC would only make things worse as it would make Muslims more insecure and vulnerable to get attracted towards fundamentalist and extremist ideologies.
Law Commission’s recommendations
- The commission stresses initiatives to reconcile the country’s diversity with universal arguments on human rights.
- It recommended codification of all personal laws
- So that the prejudices and stereotypes in all religions can be brought to light.
- They can eventually be tested against the anvil of the fundamental rights in the constitution.
- It could help arrive at certain universal principles.
- These may facilitate prioritizing equality instead of the imposition of UCC.
- Uniform Civil Code would only discourage many from using the law altogether. This is especially true considering the fact that matters related to marriage and divorce can be settled extra-judicially as well. Thus the commission suggested certain amendments in the personal laws related to marriage and divorce.
- Fixing the marriageable age of boys and girls at 18 years so that they can marry as equals.
- Making adultery a ground for divorce for men and women.
- Simplifying the divorce procedure.
- It suggested making polygamy a criminal offense and applying it to all communities.
What is the way forward?
- UCC can only emerge through an evolutionary process. Hence major sensitization efforts are required to reform current personal law reforms which should be first initiated by the communities themselves.
- Existing institutions should be modernized, democratized, and strengthened for this change.
- Serious efforts towards women empowerment have to be taken for all women of all religions.
- The plural democracy is an identity of modern India. Hence initiatives should be concentrated on bringing harmony in plurality, rather than blanket uniformity for flourishing Indian democracy.
Practice Question:
- “A secular republic like India needs a common law for all citizens rather than differentiated rules based on religious practices”. Comment.
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Without uniform civil code our constitution is not secular.personal laws of communities interfere in “FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.”
Ucc should be enforced by making some changes. As minorities are feeling vulnerable that’s why gov. firstly should make them comfortable with the idea. As far as I could think this is not suitable time yet that’s why gov should take gradual steps forward and should encourage people to adopt a broad mindset. Extracurricular activities should be promoted in schools and colleges so that the youth would be aware of that if ucc implemented this would minimise inequalities. Gov must be unbiased and should not be hypersensitive in implementing ucc rather this would lead to vandalism.