Centre likely to refer Uniform Civil Code issue to 22nd Law Commission: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has told BJP MP Nishikant Dubey that the proposal to examine issues relating to Uniform Civil Code (UCC) may be taken up by the 22nd Law Commission. The law minister informed his party colleague the proposal was referred to the 21st Law Commission but since its term has ended, the matter is expected to be taken up by the 22nd Commission.
Rijiju said that a proposal to examine issues related to UCC was forwarded to the 21st 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,” MrRijiju said in a written reply to Dubey.
BJP MP Dubey had raised the UCC issue as a matter of urgent public importance on December 1, 2021 in Lok Sabha.
The Union law minister further said that Article 44 of the Constitution states that the ‘state shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India’.
The Centre recently informed the Delhi High Court that it would study the report of the 21st Law Commission which undertook detailed research on the UCC.
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 told the Delhi HC 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.
The governmnet in its affidavit submitted before the court mentioned that it does not have any immediate plan to implement UCC measure as it is a very sensitive matter and requires deep study of the personal laws of the various communities in the country.
Interestingly, the Delhi High Court on July 9, 2021 had said there is a need to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the country so that ‘youth of modern India belonging to various communities, tribes, castes, or religions who solemnise their marriages ought not be forced to struggle with issues arising due to conflicts in various personal laws’.
