Law panel issues fresh appeal seeking views on common code

In a fresh appeal, the Law Commission today sought people's views on the issue of common civil code, but said triple talaq is no longer a subject for consideration as a bill to criminalise the practice is pending in Parliament.

The commission said that it has received an overwhelming response by the people and it is appropriate to elicit detailed submissions on the issue from the stakeholders again.

The submissions can be in the form of working papers or consultation and can touch any issue related to the uniform civil code, except (instant) triple talaq, it said.

Suggestions from government and non-government bodies and the other stakeholders can be submitted till April 6.

A uniform civil code will mean a set of common personal laws for all citizens. Personal law, among other issues, covers marriage and divorce.

The BJP is yet to respond to a law commission questionnaire on the contentious uniform civil code floated in October 2016, while most of the opposition parties which replied have dubbed the move -- to refer the matter to the law panel -- as a part of the ruling party's "political agenda".

Sources in the panel said the questionnaire has so far received over 45,000 responses which continue to pour in even after the expiry of the deadline.

While the deadline to send the responses ended on December 21, 2016, the law panel said it would continue to entertain responses received after the deadline.

"The uniform civil code is one of the important projects before the Law Commission. The responses/replies received by the commission are being processed. The response/replies received, if any, after the date may also be considered," it had said in a brief statement earlier.

Law panel chairman Justice (retd) B S Chauhan had recently said that the commission will recommend religion-wise piece meal amendments to family laws if it finds it difficult to come out with a composite uniform civil code.

He also said that the civil code cannot be violative of any provision of the Constitution.