THE UNIFORM CIVIL CODE
A Public Interest Litigation was taken into the High Court by a BJP leader, Ashwani Kumar Upadhyaya, on Thursday, to seek directions to the Centre to frame a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to promote national integration.
The Uniform Civil Code shall replace the personal laws which were earlier based upon the various customs, of the several religious communities, with one set of rules governing the people of the country.
About the Uniform Civil Code, is mentioned under Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, which speaks about promoting unity, fraternity and national integration.
However, an application was taken into the Delhi High Court by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) seeking to be impleaded as a party in the PIL seeking implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. While opposing the PIL, the members of AIMPLB have also made a statement about the petitioner about they are in the habit of filing frivolous pleas. The AIMPLB are bothered with the effect that the Uniform Civil Code may have, on the practicality of the personal laws of the various Muslim people living in the country.
The AIMPLB has opposed the PIL stating that the wants of the petitioner are framed in such a manner that it seems that the Legislature is subordinate to the Union Judiciary, instead of being the equal pillars of the sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic of India.
The plea sought the framing of this code in the presence of Article 14, 15, and 44 of the Constitution of India. It also provides with a provision of setting up of a Judicial Commission to make a standard Uniform Civil Code.
A bench presided over by Chief Justice DN Patel had posted the matter for the next hearing for the 27th of August, where a final decision can be expected in this regard.
NANDINI SHARMA
STUDENT REPORTER