U’khand passes Uniform Civil Code but faces ire of women, Muslim groups

New Delhi: The Uttarakhand assembly on wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill, aimed at replacing the religious personal laws governing marriage, relationships, and inheritance, among other issues.

With this, it becomes the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code. The Bill has however run into opposition with rights and women groups and minorities opposing it.

The move comes just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. It’s a crucial item on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s agenda. Assam and Gujarat have also said that the states will be supporting the law.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary announced that the state government is planning to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the current or next session of the assembly, following in the footsteps of Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand leader of opposition Yashpal Arya said that the opposition should have been given some time to prepare to debate before passing the Bill.

Uttarakhand women’s groups have released a statement, saying, “While seemingly being uniform across religions, the Bill is actually criminalising and regulating constitutionally acceptable behaviours, like adult consenting cohabitation, called “live in’, reducing autonomy and choice, which the women in this country have attained through concerted , inside the homes and on public platforms. Moral policing measures have been introduced in this regard. What is shocking is that this law is applicable even to those living outside Uttarakhand, apart from being applicable on all residents of the state including those who do not have a domicile.”

“In a statement, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board said the proposed law on the Uniform Civil Code is “inappropriate, unnecessary and against the diversity”.

“It has been rushed to gain political advantage. It is a mere eyewash and nothing more than a political propaganda,” it said.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind said Muslims won’t be able to compromise on Shariah. Trinamool Congress’s Saket Gokhale criticised the rules for couples in a live-in relationship, saying that the “BJP has now stepped into people’s bedrooms.”

Congress leader Shama Mohamed also said that the Bill was a “shameful attempt by the BJP government to barge into the personal life of consenting adults”.

The Bill has fixed the minimum age for marriage in all communities – 18 for women, 21 for men.

It mandates compulsory registration of live-in relationships and punishment of three to six months in jail for failing to do so. Adults will be required to obtain consent from their parents.

Uniform Civil Code can't be imposed, Constitution gives people religious freedom: Prakash Ambedkar

Parliament cannot “impose” the Uniform Civil Code on citizens as the Constitution gives a person religious freedom, said Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar, who is the head of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), on Wednesday.

In case the Uttarakhand government implements UCC in the hill state, the choice will be with the people whether they want to live as per the code or as per their religion (personal law), he claimed.

He also wondered if the state has the right to implement it in the first place. Ambedkar was addressing a press conference in Nagpur.

To a query on the BJP-led Centre's wish to roll out UCC across the country, Ambedkar said that Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution give a person the freedom to adopt a religious life as long as it doesn't conflict with any fundamental rights.

Besides, the government cannot “impose” UCC unless it changes the Constitution completely, he said.

People will now have clarity over whether they want to accept UCC or follow their personal laws, he said.

Ambedkar wondered whether the Uttarakhand government has the right to bring in UCC.

Even if the state implements it, people will have the choice of whether to accept it or live as per their religion, he said. (PTI)