Keywords: UCC, Public opinion, Law commission
On Wednesday[1], Chairman Justice Rituraj Awasthi announced that the Law Commission has received an overwhelming response of 8.5 lakh (850,000) submissions regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) since the initiation of a new consultation process two weeks ago. Justice Awasthi emphasized that the UCC is not a new issue, as it was first referred to the Law Commission in 2016 and a consultation paper was released in 2018. However, due to the Law Commission’s inactivity from 2018 to November 2022, the matter was not actively pursued until recent appointments were made.
The Law Commission aims to conduct extensive consultations on the UCC, involving all stakeholders and organizations. The new consultation process began on June 14, 2023, following an examination of the subject by the Law Commission, which sought the opinions of various stakeholders. With a deadline of 30 days, the commission invited Indians to share their views, thoughts, comments, and submissions on the UCC, resulting in the significant response of 8.5 lakh submissions.
Speaking to ANI, Chairman Awasthi also expressed the opinion that a sedition law is essential in the Indian Penal Code, considering the current state of the country. The Law Commission has previously advocated for increasing the maximum sentence under the IPC’s sedition provision from three years to seven years.
The UCC has recently gained attention, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi voicing support for its implementation during a public address to BJP workers in Madhya Pradesh. His comments on the need for a unified legal framework in the country have sparked reactions from various organizations and political parties. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its general support for the UCC but emphasized the importance of conducting extensive consultations with all religions before its implementation, according to AAP leader Sandeep Pathak.
In contrast, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema condemned the implementation of the UCC, stating that it would not be in the best interests of minorities in the country.
The Uniform Civil Code aims to replace diverse personal laws based on religious customs and scriptures with a unified set of governing rules. As the Law Commission continues to receive a significant number of responses during the consultation process, the opinions and discussions surrounding the UCC are likely to intensify in the coming days.
Written by- Jaydeep Ramani, College name – Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Semester- 7 an intern under Legal Vidhiya
[1] https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/law-commission-has-received-8-5-lakh-responses-so-far-on-ucc-chairman-ritu-raj-awasthi/articleshow/101344241.cms
