Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand

Q. Why in News?

A. Recently, an expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court (SC) judge has been constituted by Uttarakhand to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and for checking all the relevant laws that control personal matters for those living in Uttarakhand.

• A few months ago, the Allahabad High Court also called upon the Central government to initiate the process for implementation of UCC.

Q. What is Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?

A.

• About:
  • UCC would provide one law for the entire nation (including all religious communities) in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.
  • Article 44 of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a UCC for the citizens throughout the Indian territory.
  • Article 44 is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).
    • DPSP as defined in Article 37, are not justiciable (not enforceable by any court). However, the principles laid down therein are fundamental in governance.
• Status of UCC in India:
  • In most civil matters, India follows UCC such as Indian Contract Act 1872, Civil Procedure Code, Transfer of Property Act 1882, Partnership Act 1932, Evidence Act, 1872 etc.
  • In certain matters, however, there is diversity even under these civil laws as states have made hundreds of amendments to these.
    • Several states refused to be governed by the uniform Motor Vehicles Act, 2019.
  • At present, Goa is the only India state that has implemented UCC.
• Origin:
  • UCC’s origin dates back to British India when a report was submitted in 1835.
    • This report stressed on the need for uniformity in the codification of Indian law relating to crimes, evidence, and contracts, specifically recommending that personal laws of Hindus and Muslims be kept outside such codification.
    • Legislation dealing with personal issues increased. This forced the government to form the B N Rau Committee to codify Hindu law in 1941.
    • Hindu Succession Act, 1956:
      • Based on B.N. Rau Committee’s recommendations, the Hindu Succession Act (1956) was adopted to amend and codify the law relating to intestate or unwilled succession, among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.
      • However, there were separate personal laws for muslim, christian and Parsis.
  • SC Judgements:
    • In order to bring uniformity, the courts have often said in their judgements that the government should move towards a UCC.
    • The judgement in the Shah Bano case (1985) is well known.
    • Another case was the Sarla Mudgal Case (1995), which dealt with issue of bigamy and conflict between the personal laws existing on matters of marriage.
    • The Supreme Court in Shayara Bano case (2017) had declared the practice of Triple Talaq (talaq-e-biddat) as unconstitutional.
    • By arguing that practices such as triple talaq and polygamy adversely affect the right of a woman to a life of dignity, the Centre has raised the question whether constitutional protection given to religious practices should extend even to those that are not in compliance with fundamental rights.

Q. What is the need of UCC?

A.

• All citizens must be treated as equals and government sponsorship/regulation of religious places/events must be barred in the constitution.
• The enforcement of UCC would help narrow down the religious divide in a country like India where people of different religions reside.
• The enforcement of UCC would provide protection to vulnerable sections, simplify laws and ensure gender justice adhering to the ideal of secularism.

Q. What are the Challenges in Adoption of the UCC?

A.

• Against Indian Concept of Secularism:
  • It is feared by many that by attempting to implement UCC, the parliament is only duplicating the western model of law which is based on uniformity but Indian concept of Secularism is based on diversity of religion and people.
  • In India, people are having different religious faiths. Diverse religious practices make it to implement a basic platform of practices for every religion.
  • Minorities i.e., Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain, and Zoroastrians have a misconception that UCC will destroy their religious practices and they will be complied to follow the religious practice of majorities.
• Unawareness of People:
  • The most significant issue is the unawareness of people regarding the objects of UCC, and the reason for such unawareness is the lack of education, fake news, irrational religious beliefs, etc.
• Communal Politics:
  • The demand for a uniform civil code has been framed in the context of communal politics.
  • A large section of society sees it as majoritarianism under the garb of social reform.
• Constitutional Hurdle:
  • Article 25 of Indian constitution, that seeks to preserve the freedom to practise and propagate any religion gets into conflict with the concepts of equality enshrined under Article 14 of Indian Constitution.

Q. What is the Way Forward?
A. 

• The government and society will have to work hard to build trust, but more importantly, make common cause with social reformers rather than religious conservatives.
• Rather than an omnibus approach, the government could bring separate aspects such as marriage, adoption, succession and maintenance into a UCC in stages.
• Need of the hour is the codification of all personal laws so that prejudices and stereotypes in every one of them would come to light and can be tested on the anvil of fundamental rights of the Constitution.
• A balance between protection of fundamental rights and religious dogmas of individuals must be carved out. It should be a code, without any bias with regards to religious or political considerations.