New Delhi: Law Commission of India’s intention to re-examine the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) shows Modi government’s desperation for a legitimate justification of its continuing agenda of polarisation and diversion from its glaring failures, the Congress said Thursday.
Party’s communication in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said in a statement that it was “strange” that the 22nd Law Commission is seeking a fresh reference, when its predecessor, the 21st Law Commission, had published a consultation paper on the subject in August 2018.
Pointing out that “no reasons are given for why the subject is being revisited except for vague references,” he added, “The real reason is that the 21st Law Commission, after carrying out a detailed and comprehensive review of the subject, observed that it is ‘neither necessary nor desirable at this stage’ to have a Uniform Civil Code.”
The former Union minister added that the law commission has produced an “enviable body” of work over the decades on issues of national importance and “should be mindful of that legacy and remember that the interests of the nation are distinct from the political ambitions of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).”
The Congress has not explicitly opposed the concept of UCC.
On Wednesday, the commission sought views and ideas of the “public at large and recognized religious organisations” about the UCC. “Those who are interested and willing may present their views within a period of 30 days from the date of notice….”, read the notification.
While acknowledging the previous law commission’s consultation paper, the notice said the panel considered it “expedient to deliberate afresh over the subject” since it had been three years to the said paper, “bearing in mind the relevance and importance of the subject and also the various court orders on the subject”.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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