Law panel extends deadline to submit responses on civil code

The Law Commission, which is examining the possibility of bringing out a uniform civil code, has extended till May 6 the deadline for stakeholders to submit their comments and suggestions on the issue.

The commission had earlier, on March 19, issued a public appeal seeking views and objections to UCC by April 6. In a fresh notice issued earlier this week, the commission said the extension follows requests from stakeholders and and an overwhelming response to theearlier notice.

The Commission said more than 60,000 responses have been received by it on the common code.

The UCC is part of the ruling BJP's election manifesto.

In June 2016, the law ministry sent a reference to the commission asking it for an in-depth examination of matters in relation to the Uniform Civil Code and whether the time was ripe for bringing it in.

In October that year, the commission had sought responses from political parties, religious groups and the public at large for comments and suggestions on the issue.

The commission issued an appeal on March 19 asking stakeholders and the public at large to send in their suggestions and comments on the issue of the UCC.

The appeal also said that suggestions related to triple talaq should be excluded because a bill to criminalisethe practice of Talaq-e-biddat or instant triple talaq is pending in Parliament. The deadline for writing in to the commission was April 6.