On June 27, while speaking at a gathering of BJP party workers in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, delivered a strong speech for implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India

Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has triggered the nationwide debate after PM Modi pitched it ahead of the elections. He said that India cannot run on two laws, and that the UCC was included in the Constitution. The enactment of UCC in India has been an arguable topic for many years.

“In a home, can there be one law for one member and another law for another member? Will that home be able to function with a dual system…” Modi mentioned in his first public speech supporting the UCC.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM ) president, Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at Modi saying. “India’s PM considers India’s diversity and pluralism a problem. So, he says such things… Will you strip the country of its pluralism and diversity in the name of UCC?”

What does the Indian Constitution say about UCC? 

The concept of UCC is to have a set of common laws for all citizens of the country, regardless of their religion, gender, sexual orientation. It is applicable in governing personal matters like marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and others.

Although the absolute form of UCC is debatable, a fair bit of it is mentioned in the Constitution. The Constitution of India, under Article 44, Part IV deals with the Directive Principles of State Policy, mentions, “The state shall endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for its citizens”. However, it was left at the disposal of the government to apply a UCC, keeping in mind the religious and cultural diversity in India.

Why is UCC a controversial topic in India?

In India, personal laws or civil codes dealing with marriage, divorce, inheritance, taxes, etc. depend on various religious texts and customs. Different communities in India have distinct personal laws, like Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Personal Law, Muslim Sharia Law; Indian Succession Act for Christians, Parsis, and Jews. Also the Tribal communities of India are protected under various tribal laws. Implementation of a UCC gives rise to a challenge for this diversified cultural fabric of the country.

Supporters of the UCC on the other hand feel that its implementation would foster a sense of national integration by endorsing unity among various religious communities and reinforce the secular frame of the country. 

The issue of a UCC is still a highly complex and arguable topic, therefore it cannot be forcefully imposed on people and if implemented must be carefully drafted with a lot of sensitivity. 

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