Uniform Civil Code

The 22nd Law Commission will get very little time to delve into the sensitive subject of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the country if the government decides to seek its recommendation on the issue, news agency PTI reported.

The Law Commission is constituted for three years and the 22nd Law Commission was notified on February 24, 2020, but key vacancies in the panel, including that of the chairperson, are to be filled up, sources in the government told PTI.

BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey had raised the issue of the importance of having a UCC in a Zero Hour reference in December last year.

Responding to the issue, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju wrote to Dubey in January, saying Article 44 of the Constitution provides that State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a UCC throughout the territory of India.

"In view of the importance of the subject matter and sensitivity involved and it requiring in-depth study of the provisions of various personal laws governing different communities, a proposal to examine issues relating to uniform civil code and to make recommendations has been forwarded to the 21st Law Commission of India," he said.

Hoever, the term of the 21st Law Commission ended on August 31, 2018. "The matter may taken up by the 22nd Law Commission of India," Rijiju said.

In June 2016, the Union Law Ministry had asked the 21st Law Commission to examine matters in relation to UCC.

After detailed research and a number of consultations held over the course of two years, the Commission had issued a consultation paper on reform of family laws in India.

If implemented, UCC is likely to provide one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.

The Centre had recently told Delhi High Court that it would examine the need for a UCC and hold consultation with various stakeholders after it receives a report from the Law Commission on the subject.

UCC has been a part of the BJP's successive election manifestos.

(WithPTI and ANI inputs)

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The new Law Commission could take up the issue of Uniform Civil Code, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has informed BJP member Nishikant Dubey in a letter.

During the winter session of Parliament last year, on December 1, Mr. Dubey had raised the issue of a Uniform Civil Code during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.

Responding to the issue, Mr. Rijiju in a letter, said the issue required in-depth study of the provisions of various personal laws governing different communities and given the sensitivity of the subject matter, the issue was referred to the 21 Law Commission.

“However, the term of the 21st Law Commission ended on 31.08.2018. The matter may be taken up by the 22nd Law Commission of India,” the Law Minister said in his letter.

Mr. Rijiju also stated that Article 44 of the Constitution provided that the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India.

In December 2020, President Ram Nath Kovind, while addressing an event to mark the 60 anniversary of Goa’s Liberation, had hailed the Common Civil Code of Goa.

The issue of Uniform Civil Code, to replace the various personal laws governing different religious communities, has been among top political goals of the ruling BJP and figured in the party’s 2019 manifesto.