India, being a diverse nation, is home to many religions, each with its distinct personal laws governing marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance and succession. It would be accurate to say that the absence of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has only served to perpetuate inequalities and inconsistencies in our land of rich diversity. In fact, this has been a hindrance in the nation's progress toward social harmony, economic and gender justice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called last week to enact a UCC, pointing out the anomaly of having varying laws for different categories of citizens.

History
In India, the concept of uniform civil code dates back to colonial times in which the British authorities tried unifying a wide range of personal laws governing various religious communities. The importance of the UCC was recognized by the Indian Constitution after independence, which placed it as a Directive principle on State policy in Article 44. The implementation of this has been far from success due to political and societal complexities.


The debate on the UCC goes back to the Constituent Assembly debates. In fact, one could assert that the legality of UCC is rooted in the Constitution of India, Constituent Assembly debates, and also Supreme Court of India judgments. Constituent Assembly debates shed light on the need and the objective behind promoting a common civil code. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, had made a strong case in the Constituent Assembly for framing a UCC. He stressed the importance of a UCC in ensuring gender equality and eradicating prevailing social evils.

Motive
The motive behind the Uniform Civil Code in India is rooted in the principles of the Preamble of Indian Constitution which contains the values of Equality, Liberty, Fraternity, and Secularism.

Secularism: India is a diverse country with a multitude of religions and personal laws. The UCC aims to establish a secular legal framework, free from religious biases, in matters of personal laws. It seeks to ensure that the state treats all its citizens equally, regardless of their religious affiliations.

Gender Justice: India's personal laws differ based on religious communities, leading to disparities and discrimination, particularly against women and transgenders in India. The UCC aims to eliminate gender disparities prevalent in personal laws and ensure equal rights and opportunities for men, women and eventually transgenders. It seeks to empower women and provide them with better legal protection in matters such as marriage, divorce, compensation, property inheritance, and adoption.

National Integration: India's rich cultural diversity is both a strength and a challenge. A UCC aims to promote national integration by creating a sense of unity among citizens, transcending religious boundaries, and fostering a common identity as Indians.

Simplification of Laws: India's legal system comprises multiple personal laws based on different religions, leading to complexities and legal disputes. A UCC would harmonize and simplify these laws, providing a uniform and comprehensive legal framework for personal matters.

Social Reforms: India's personal laws, especially in some communities have outdated practices that require social reform. UCC provides an opportunity to modernize and update these laws, aligning them with contemporary societal norms and natural justice.

Legal Certainty and Uniformity: UCC would bring certainty and consistency to the legal landscape, making it easier for citizens to understand and comply with the law. It would also ensure that all citizens are subject to the same legal principles, promoting fairness and justice.

International Obligations: UCC would help India fulfill its international obligations regarding human rights and gender equality. Implementing a uniform code could demonstrate India's commitment to these global standards.

Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups: Certain groups, such as tribals and individuals from marginalized communities, might find themselves at a disadvantage under existing personal laws. A UCC could help empower these vulnerable groups and provide them with better legal protection.

Stand of Indian Judiciary over UCC
The Indian judiciary, including the Supreme Court of India, has played a significant role in addressing various aspects related to the Uniform Civil Code. The Supreme Court has upheld the idea that a Uniform Civil Code would be beneficial for ensuring equality and justice and would help harmonize the diverse legal frameworks governing personal matters and bring gender equality and remove inequalities in personal laws governed by different religions.

Even, the Apex Court has several times directed the Government of India through judgements to implement Uniform Civil Code in India.

There are several landmark Judgements by the Supreme Court of India directly asking for the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in India.
Few of them are mentioned herein:

• Mohd. Ahmed Khan Vs. Shah Bano Begum (1985): In this case, the Supreme Court upheld the right of a Muslim woman to receive maintenance from her ex-husband under Section 125 of the CrPC. The judgment sparked debates about the application of personal laws to matters of marriage, divorce, and maintenance. The Court commented on the need for a Uniform Civil Code to address these issues.
   
• Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India (1995): The Supreme Court discussed the issue of bigamy in the context of conversions to Islam for the purpose of contracting a second marriage while not legally dissolving the first marriage. The Court observed that there is a need for a Uniform Civil Code to address such issues.
   
• John Vallamattom v. Union of India (2003): In this case, the Supreme Court while dealing with the issue of Christian personal law, highlighted the need for a UCC to ensure equality and justice, especially in matters of succession and inheritance.
   
• Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2000) and others: In this case, the Supreme Court discussed the issue of religious conversions for the purpose of contracting a second marriage without formally dissolving the first marriage. The Court reiterated the need for a UCC to eliminate such discrepancies.

Procedure for Implementing UCC
The procedure for implementing a Uniform Civil Code is complex and involves multiple stages:

• Legislative Action: Legislative action by the Parliament of India shall be the first step. A bill calling for the creation of a uniform civil code would have to be introduced by the government. In both Houses of Parliament, the bill would be subject to debate, amendment and vote.
   
• Consensus Building: In order for the UCC bill to be passed successfully, it is necessary to build consensus among a number of political parties and faith communities. The government will need to conduct a wide range of consultations and negotiations in view of the sensitive nature of this issue.
   
• Judicial Interpretation: The Judiciary plays an important role in interpreting and implementing laws passed by the Legislation. Courts might need to address conflicts between existing personal laws and the uniform civil code when necessary.
   
• Impact on the current Laws:
  • Uniformity in Personal Laws: UCC would replace the personal laws already existing in India for several communities leading towards uniformity in matters such as marriage, divorce, compensation, property inheritance, and adoption.
  • Promotes Gender Equality: Females will be benefitted through UCC, as it'll provide equal rights and opportunities even in matters of inheritance and divorce.

Hurdles in the path:
While the concept of a UCC is seen by some as a step towards ensuring equality and secularism, its implementation has faced several hurdles, such as:

• Tribal Rights and Culture: Balancing tribal norms with uniformity throughout the country with huge diversity in the country is crucial and important. Tribes have their own culture and local laws implementing a common code that applies to all citizens could be perceived as an infringement on the religious rights and practices of various communities it would be interesting to see how the lawmakers manage these laws and implementation in UCC.
   
• Social awareness: Most of the people in the rural areas of the country don't have any idea about UCC and uniformity in laws. Making such a huge population aware of such a crucial topic is very hard and challenging for the government.
   
• Political resistance: Political parties often use religious and cultural identities to mobilize support, and the implementation of a UCC has become a sensitive political issue. Many political parties fear losing the support of certain religious groups if they openly support a common civil code.
   
• Constitutional challenges: Although UCC is mentioned in the Directive principles given in The Indian Constitution but it also allows citizens the right to practice their religion and follow their personal laws with the protection of Article 25. Implementing a UCC could face legal challenges based on these constitutional provisions.
   
• Lack of consensus: There is a lack of consensus among different religious groups, communities, and even legal experts on the exact form and content of a UCC. Finding common ground that respects the cultural and religious diversity while ensuring uniformity in certain aspects is a major challenge.
   
• Implementation issues: Even if a UCC were to be drafted and passed, there may be challenges in effectively implementing and enforcing it throughout the vast and diverse country.
   
• Public awareness and acceptance: Implementing a UCC would require significant public awareness campaigns to inform people about the changes and address misconceptions or concerns.

Current Status:
However, in 2023, the status of UCC in India seems to be improving. The government has taken steps towards implementing a common civil law for all citizens, which will promote gender equality and put an end to discriminatory practices. The idea behind UCC is to create a uniform code that will provide equal rights and opportunities to all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Further the state government of Uttarakhand made a committee to prepare a draft for Uniform Civil Code to be implemented in Uttarakhand also the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be implemented in the state as soon as the committee submitted its report.

The implementation of UCC can help in establishing a modern and progressive society, which can help India to become a developed country. The UCC will also promote unity and harmony among different religious communities. However, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed before the implementation of UCC, such as the opposition from certain political parties and religious groups.

Overall, the current status of UCC in India in 2023 seems to be promising, with the government taking steps towards implementing a common civil law for all citizens. The implementation of UCC can help in promoting gender equality and creating a modern and progressive society.

Award Winning Article Is Written By: Mr.Supreem Srivastava

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