Uniform Civil Code: Government Explains Why It Initiated Fresh Consultations

The government said on Thursday (20 July) that the Law Commission has started new discussions on the issue of a uniform civil code (UCC). This decision was made due to the "relevance and importance" of the subject, as well as various court orders related to it.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal provided a written reply in Rajya Sabha. He stated that the 21st Law Commission released a consultation paper titled "Reform of Family Law" on 31 August 2018. However, the commission had not submitted a report on the subject as yet.

“Since more than four years have lapsed from the date of issuance of the said consultation paper, the 22nd Law Commission (the present panel) decided to solicit views and ideas of the public at large and religious organisations on June 14, 2023, bearing in mind the relevance and importance of the subject matter and also various court orders on the subject of uniform civil code,” he said.

According to Meghwal, the question of modalities for a UCC does not arise at this stage as the law panel is currently in the process of conducting consultations.

The deadline for the public to submit their views on the UCC has been extended until 28 July. This decision was made due to the overwhelming response and numerous requests for more time to provide suggestions.

During a recent appearance before a parliamentary committee, representatives of the law panel defended the new consultation exercise. They explained that the previous commission had presented its suggestions in 2018, and since their term had ended, a fresh initiative was initiated for "informational" purposes.

The previous Law Commission, led by Justice B S Chauhan (retired), released a consultation paper on 31 August 2018. In this paper, it emphasised that while the diversity of Indian culture should be celebrated, it is crucial to ensure that specific groups or weaker sections of society are not disadvantaged in the process.

The commission focused on addressing discriminatory laws rather than advocating for a uniform civil code, which it deemed unnecessary and undesirable at this stage.

The concept of a UCC entails the establishment of a uniform legal system for all citizens of a country, irrespective of their religious beliefs. It aims to encompass personal laws, as well as laws pertaining to inheritance, adoption, and succession, under a common code.

The implementation of a common code has consistently been included in the election manifestos of the BJP.

Uttarakhand is currently in the process of developing its own UCC, which is expected to be introduced in the near future.