Different laws for religions is detrimental: Centre

CITING ARTICLE 44 OF CONSTITUTION, CENTRE SAID THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROVISION IS TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTRY

NEW DELHI: Different personal laws followed by people of various religions are detrimental to the nation’s unity, the Centre told the Delhi high court while supporting the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India.

“Citizens belonging to different religions and denominations follow different property and matrimonial laws, which is an affront to the nation’s unity,” stated the affidavit filed in the high court around a week ago.

In May 2019, the court had sought the Centre’s response on BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay’s petition seeking constitution of a judicial commission to draft the UCC in order to promote national integration, gender justice and equality, and dignity of women

Citing Article 44 of the Constitution, which provides that the state shall endeavour to secure UCC throughout the country, the Centre, in its response, maintained that the purpose of this provision is to strengthen the object of “secular democratic republic, ” as envisaged in the Preamble.

It added that Article 44 divests religion from social relations and personal law while propounding the concept of common law for all citizens in matters of marriage, divorce, succession, maintenance, custody, guardianship of children, inheritance, succession and adoption.

The affidavit, filed through the Union law ministry, stated that considering the importance and sensitivity of the UCC, it was referred to the Law Commission of India that favoured a wider consultation in an August 2018 report.

As and when the final report of the Law Commission is received, the government said, a consultation will ensue with all the stakeholders.