Uniform Civil Code: Centre asks Law Commission to submit report

The BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre has asked the Law Commission to examine the implications of implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the country.

Confirming the news, Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda said that repeatedly received questions about this in the Parliament, following which he has asked the Law Commission to give him a report in this regard.

"Repeatedly, I used to get questions in the Parliament. Even the Supreme Court also observed that in the recent judgments. So, I wanted to have a detailed study as far as common civil procedure code is concerned," Gowda told reporters.

"I have requested the Law Commission to give me a report with regard to this," he added.

The code, if implemented, would mean a set of common civil laws for all citizens in place of multitude of personal laws for different religious groups.

Under the Directive Principles of the State Policy in the Constitution, Article 44 says: "The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India."

The Uniform Civil Code has been a controversial issue and it was the part of BJP's poll manifesto.

This move by the Centre assumes significance as the Supreme Court had recently said it would prefer to have a wider debate, in public as well as in court, before taking a decision on the constitutional validity of 'triple talaq'.

Meanwhile, the BJP has also called for an open debate over the code maintaining that it is a part of the Constitution.

Party Secretary Shrikant Sharma said people who are opposed to it, are adopting intolerant approach towards the Constitution. He said parties have been doing vote bank politics over the issue.

On the other hand, Congress has accused the BJP of doing politics over the issue. Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said whenever elections are round the corner, the BJP raises such issues. He however, favoured evolving a near consensus to arrive at any decision on the code.