Received Great Public Response On Uniform Civil Code, Says Law Commission Chairman Amid Row

The Law Commission has received around 8.5 lakh responses from various stakeholders to its call for views on the Uniform Civil Code.

Law Commission Chairman Justice Rituraj Awasthi ( Image Source :ANI )

Law Commission Chairman Justice Rituraj Awasthi on Wednesday said that the panel had received a good response to its notice seeking opinions and views of various stakeholders, including members of the public and religious organisations. Awasthi also said that a sedition law is urgently needed in the country, considering the current situation. "Sedition law is the need of the hour. We examined the usage of law and it is much needed considering the current condition of the country," Awasthi said 

"From Kashmir to Kerala and from Punjab to North East, if you see the situation, you'll see it's required for the integrity of the country," says he added.

On a UCC, Awasthi was quoted by news agency ANI as saying, "We have got a huge response over the Uniform Civil Code after the communication of the notice by Law Commission. Till yesterday [Tuesday], we have received 8.5 lakh responses." "UCC is not a new issue, the reference was received in 2016 and a consultation paper was released in 2018. From 2018 to November 2022, the Law Commission was not functional. In November last year, appointments were made and this matter was taken up," he said.

The Law Commission in June had sought the public's views on the UCC. After the opinions of various stakeholders are received, the panel will deliberate on the various aspects of UCC and the possibility of its implementation. "We are making efforts to have wide consultations with all the stakeholders and the organisations," Awasthi said.

What is UCC?

The Uniform Civil Code aims to establish a standardized set of personal laws that would be applicable to all citizens regardless of their religion, gender, caste, and other factors. Essentially, the Uniform Civil Code entails a unified framework of laws that govern personal matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, and succession.

Presently, the personal laws of different communities are predominantly influenced by their respective religious practices.

The Uniform Civil Code is covered under Article 44 of the Constitution of India. It states that the State [India] shall strive to implement a uniform civil code for all citizens throughout the territory of India. However, since this article falls under the directive principles of state policy, it is considered a non-binding guideline rather than a mandatory provision.

What PM Modi Said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday advocated the implementation of a UCC, saying that there cannot be different sets of laws for the same people in the country. "How will the country run with different laws? People are only being instigated in the name of the Uniform Civil Code. Two types of laws cannot run the country. The Constitution of India also talks about equal rights for the citizens," he said at a rally in Bhopal.

Opposition Hits Out

Soon after PM Modi's statement, Opposition parties slammed him for advocating a single law for the entire nation. The Opposition alleged that this was a tact to "divert attention from real issues".
While the Congress accused the BJP of ignoring important matters like unemployment, inflation, and the situation in Manipur, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi challenged the Prime Minister to abolish the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) law, which, he claimed, cost the country billions of rupees annually.