Private Bill To Implement Uniform Civil Code Introduced In Rajya Sabha

The Bill, moved by BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena, seeks to provide for the constitution of the "National Inspection and Investigation Committee" for preparation of Uniform Civil Code and its implementation throughout the territory of India.

Strongly opposing its introduction, Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy (Vaiko) of the MDMK Party dubbed the Bill as an instrument to "disintegrate" the country and its minorities. Notices opposing the bill were then moved by MPs Abdul Wahab, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, Elamaram Kareem, V. Sivadasan, John Brittas and A. A. Rahim, to name a few.

Elamaram Kareem, an MP from the CPI (M) Party remarked that India being a secular country, the Indian Constitution "gave protection to all sections of people." Kareem said that before bringing such legislation, "there should be wide consultation with different communities, and people from different religions, or else it shall create differences between people."

Answering a voice which said that UCC is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy, the MP then remarked that, "there are so many other DPSPs, why aren't those being implemented? Decent wages should be given to workers – why isn't that implemented?"

Another MP, while vehemently opposing the Bill, said that, "the 21^st Law Commission had concluded that a Uniform Civil Code was neither necessary nor desirable," and that the legislation if subsequently enacted shall be against the very "spirit of the Constitution."

Echoing a similar sentiment, Professor Ram Gopal Yadav, a Samajwadi Party MP said that the Bill is against Articles 26(b) and 29(1) of the Constitution and that it was in order to protect the rights of minorities that the Constituent Assembly decided to not have a Uniform Civil Code for the country.