Uniform Civil Code can ensure parity, equality to minorities, women
India

Uniform Civil Code can ensure parity, equality to minorities, women

Campus Voice is an initiative by ThePrint where young Indians get an opportunity to express their opinions on a prevalent issue.

   
Representational image | Islam devotees offer Friday prayers during Ramadan, Patna, April 2022 | PTI

Representational image| Muslim devotees offer Friday prayers during Ramadan, Patna, April 2022 | PTI

Uniform Civil Code has remained controversial among different religious community in India. UCC was subjected to give uniform personal laws to every religion people but its implementation is still in process. It was Dr B.R Ambedkar who suggested a uniform civil code to be included in the article 35 of the Constitution of India 1949.

Equality is the backbone of a democracy, and it should be reflected in personal laws too. The present ruling government is trying to do so by bringing Uniform Civil Code in India Bill 2018. The key highlight of the bill is to give right to equality included under Article 14 and prohibit discrimination along the lines of religion, caste, race, sex or place of birth, which is included in Article 15 of the Constitution. Another important highlight is to abolish any kind of discrimination against women.

Minorities are against of it because of their lack of  knowledge. They are under the impression that when UCC will be implemented the majority will take religious dominance and they will have to practice the religion of majority. The main goal of UCC is to grant uniform laws in concerning issues such as marriage , succession etc and to bring homogeneity in practicing religion. So, UCC do not intends to interfere with the right to religion. UCC is an ideal approach in establishing a secular Indian society. It will tend to prevent discrimination in the name of religion, caste, race, sex etc. It is beneficial for women as it tends to prevent discrimination against women in matters of succession, marriage and divorce etc.

People who think UCC to be a blunder should observe Goa which has a state Uniform Civil Code. The UCC in Goa has features like compulsory marriage registration, prohibition of polygamy or bigamy, uniform age of marriage for men and women, consent of men and women to perform a marriage, consent of both men and women to attain lawful separation, etc. UCC can be implemented through these primary features.

The government has a big role to play in raising awareness of UCC among people so that they can know the real objectives of this code. They can take initiatives with those opposing UCC to understand their concerns and assuage their fears. This will ensure the implementation of a UCC that everyone feels confident about.

The author is a student at Mangaldai Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Assam. Views are personal