As Lok Sabha took up Zero Hour on Wednesday in its first two days of Winter session, senior BJP MP Nishikant Dubey urged the central government to expedite the process to bring in a law to implement Uniform Civil Code.
Dubey further said that Allahabad High Court had last month asked the Centre to consider setting up a panel to implement the mandate of Article 44 of the Constitution, which speaks about a Uniform Civil Code for people across the country.
Adding that the move is necessary for a united India, he said, “Even after 75 years of Independence, we have not been able to bring in a Uniform Civil Code. I urge the government to soon bring a law to implement a Uniform Civil Code.”
The Uniform Civil Code, if implemented, would replace personal laws that govern matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption and inheritance. This has always been a controversial issue as most communities have their own set of laws in these matters. It also figured as one of the promises made in the BJP manifesto ahead of the 2019 parliamentary elections.
“Article 44 of the Constitution of India lists Uniform Civil Code as one of the Directive Principles of State Policy. The BJP believes that there cannot be gender equality till such time India adopts a Uniform Civil Code, which protects the rights of all women, and the BJP reiterates its stand to draw a Uniform Civil Code, drawing upon the best traditions and harmonizing them with the modern times,” the manifesto said.
