19/06/2023
Uniform Civil Code(UCC) is once again in focus. Debates on media is picking pace as election is nearing. UCC means one code that can be uniformly applied to all Indian citizens irrespective of their faith, caste and creed and social status. Most of the laws in criminal and civil area are already codified and had uniformity, and so here UCC aims to cover personal laws only i.e, law of marriage, divorce, adoption, maintenance, succession, inheritance.
Despite various debates on UCC and its agreement/implementation in past, personal laws for different faith was always kept out from preview of UCC. Even during British era it was agreed that personal law of different faith will remain separate.Hence, separate personal laws for Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Parsi, Jews are governed according to their religion that has its own history and origin.
Also since our leaders in draft committee of Indian constitution kept UCC in directive principles of states policy(DPSP), it’s implementation is not mandatory and also not enforceable to any court .
Further since UCC content is yet not made public, there is fear in minority mind that majoritarian law (Hindu personal law)will be enforced to all under UCC banner. In this situation disagreement is bound to occur and UCC may remain only poll promise.
M. A. Hassan