In a big development, a report has emerged that claims that the Uniform Civil Code bill will likely be tabled in the monsoon session of the Parliament building, which PM Narendra Modi inaugurated on May 28, 2023. This will be the first historic bill to be introduced in the newly inaugurated Parliament building.
The report, which is highly quoted by sources, says that the bill may be sent to the parliamentary standing committee, which will gather various views from various stakeholders on the UCC.
This comes after the Parliamentary Standing Committee On Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice called representatives from the Law Commission and the Law Ministry for a meeting on July 3, 2023, regarding the notice released by the Law Commission seeking inputs on the UCC from stakeholders.
The Law Commission, on June 14, 2023, asked the public and religious organisations to submit their views on the UCC within a month, and as on June 28, 2023the commission has received 8.5 lakh responses. The agenda of the committee reads, “To hear the views of representatives of the following organisations on public notice issued by the Law Commission of India on June 14, 2023, inviting the views from various stakeholders on the UCC under the subject “Review of Personal Laws”
The BJP leader Kapil Mishra took to tweet and dropped another big hint He pointed out that the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Mandir was held on August 5, 2020, and Article 370 will be also revoked on August 5, 2019, thereby hinting that the UCC bill will be tabled on August 5.
On 27th June 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raked up the subject of the UCC during his address to party workers in Bhopal. Claiming that political parties are trying to mislead the Muslims, PM Modi strongly batted for equal rights and the Uniform Civil Code enshrined in the constitution He dropped a major hint that The UCC may be on the cards in the upcoming Parliament session.
For those unversed, the 22nd Law Commission had recently, on June 14, 2023, asked for suggestions from the general public on the UCC draft bill within thirty days.
Batting in favour of the UCC, the PM said, “Today, people are being instigated in the name of UCC. How can the country rule on two laws? The Indian Constitution also talks of equal rights. The Supreme Court has also asked to implement the Uniform Civil Code. These people are playing vote bank politics.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, today stated that the State UCC draft is now in the making. Dhami said, “The UCC drafting committee went among the people and worked for over a year.
It spoke to more than two lakh people, several stakeholders, organisations and intellectuals After this, their draft is in the making It is about to complete, and once we get it, we will examine it. We will discuss this with experts and take further course of action”
The Uniform Civil Code is a proposal to aimed at replacing personal laws based on religion, caste, and tradition with one common law for everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, sexual orientation and gender.
It is envisaged to provide one law for the entire country applicable to all religious committees in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.
The UCC aims to provide protection to the vulnerable sections. It will also simplify complex laws around marriage ceremonies, adhere to secularism’s ideal, and promote gender justice.
The Congress leaders have accused PM Modi of using the UCC issue as a diversion tactic from real problems in the country, such as Manipur Violence, inflation, and unemployment.
