Fast-pace move on Uniform Civil Code set in motion

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, June 29: Within two days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitch-forking Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to the centre stage of the political discourse, triggering an avalanche of views in the mainstream media, a Parliamentary panel has called a meeting to listen to the views of stakeholders on Monday. The Law Commission has already solicited views of the stakeholders on the desirability of the UCC.

The Parliamentary standing committee on Law and Justice headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sushil Kumar Modi has sounded out the members of the panel that the meeting on Monday will hear the views of the stakeholders. The Supreme Court on at least five occasions, including in February this year, had sounded in agreement to the rights of the state to examine the personal laws.

The UCC to deal with matters concerning marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption now appears to have been fast-paced by the government, and there are indications that the government at the Centre may come before Parliament with a legislative Bill in the Winter session to set the tone for the Lok Sabha elections early next year.

Modi appears to have scored for the BJP as the Opposition has largely opposed the UCC barring the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by the maverick politician Arvind Kejriwal who has shown wont to wear the saffron hats at ease while also mixing with the Muslims with equal ease.

While the 22^nd Law Commission set the proverbial cat among the pigeons by calling for the views on the UCC, its predecessor, 21^st law Commission, had concluded that there is no desirability of such a homogenizing law while advocating that diversity be celebrated in the country.

But Uttarakhand, the BJP-ruled state, is almost ready with its version of the UCC, which may form as the template for the Central legislation, informed sources said. Yet, the government may adopt accommodative stance for the tribes of the Northeastern states, particularly where polygamy is still in vogue such as Arunachal Pradesh. The UCC while addressing most of the communities in the country may have a window for relaxations for the tribal communities.

The BJP is aiming to pitch UCC as a polarization plank and also as a ruse to the sections of the Muslims on the lines of the legislation criminalizing practices of instant divorce to bolt from the practice of tactical voting as seen in Karnataka Assembly elections.       

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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