National Desk, 6th February: Executive Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali responded on February 6 to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly, stating that uniformity cannot be achieved in every law.
Mahali emphasized, “Exempting any community from this UCC contradicts its uniformity. There was no necessity for such a uniform civil code. Once the draft is presented, our legal team will study it, and further action will be decided.”
The UCC bill, introduced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on February 6, aims to establish uniform laws governing marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance for all citizens, irrespective of their religion. If passed, Uttarakhand would become the first state post-Independence to adopt a UCC, following Goa’s example.
The bill’s tabling evoked mixed reactions in the Assembly. While treasury benches welcomed it with desk-thumping and patriotic chants, the opposition raised concerns about insufficient time to study its provisions. Speaker Ritu Khanduri assured ample time for debate.
The UCC bill is the result of extensive public dialogue, including suggestions like a reported complete ban on polygamy and child marriage. A five-member committee led by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai presented a draft to the Chief Minister after considering over 232,961 suggestions from the public.
Other BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Assam have shown interest in following Uttarakhand’s lead should the UCC become law. The bill’s introduction signifies a step towards creating a consistent legal framework across different communities, aiming to replace personal laws with a common law for all citizens.
As the bill awaits debate and potential passage in the Assembly, it marks a significant moment in India’s discourse on the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code, a subject that has long been debated in the country’s socio-political landscape.