Monsoon Session of Parliament Opens to Spate of Questions in Lok Sabha on Uniform Civil Code

The 22^nd Law Commission sought the views and objections of individuals and organisations with respect to the UCC – a single, uniform framework that would replace personal laws and apply equally to citizens of the country irrespective of their religion. This development comes five years after the previous Law Commission released a Consultation Paper on ‘Reform of Family Law’ in 2018, opining that the formulation of a Uniform Civil Code was neither necessary nor desirable at that stage.

The talks of a uniform civil code, which is also one of the directive principles of state policy, has prompted renewed public debate on the issue. Not surprisingly, several questions have also been submitted by Members of Parliament to be answered by the Minister of Law and Justice tomorrow, i.e., Friday, July 21, which is the first day on which the law ministry will, according to the schedule, be fielding questions in the new session. Three out of the 18 unstarred questions (questions seeking a written answer) to be answered by the law ministry are on the UCC. These questions include inquiries on how constitutionally guaranteed religious rights of citizens will be protected, whether a commission has been formed to study the grievances and objections raised by minorities, would the cultures, beliefs, and traditions of tribal communities be exempted from the ambit of the UCC, and what would be its effect on other laws.

Here is a list of questions that will be answered tomorrow (in writing) in the Lok Sabha:

MPs Dean Kuriakose, Ravneet Singh Bittu, and Subburaman Thirunavukkarasar from the Indian National Congress (INC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) members Andimuthu Raja and Avinashi Ganeshamurthi, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rakesh Singh have asked the following questions regarding the suggestions for implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

1. Whether twenty-second Law Commission of India has recently initiated consultations with various stakeholders including the general public, religious organisations, and minority communities, and sought suggestions from them for implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country;
2. If so, the details of suggestions and objections received from various quarters so far in this regard;
3. Whether suggestions received so far are inadequate and require wider publicity; (d) if so, whether the Government proposes to extend the time limit for more publicity and suggestions on UCC and if so, the details thereof indicating the timeline fixed for its implementation and extension, if any proposed therein;
4. Whether the Government proposes to constitute a commission to study the grievances/objections raised by different Minority communities on the issue of UCC and if so, the details thereof; and
5. Whether the Government has assured the minority communities that UCC would be brought after broader consensus among all political parties and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Mala Roy and Sougata Ray, INC MP VK Sreekandan, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) legislator D Ravikumar, and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi have asked the following questions with respect to, inter alia, the 2018 Law Commission report on the Uniform Civil Code:

1. Whether in the year 2018, the 21^st Law Commission in its report said that UCC was neither necessary nor desirable at this stage;
2. If so, whether this decision was taken by Law Commission after wide consultation and responses from the public;
3. If so, whether the present Law Commission has issued a fresh public notice for views on UCC;
4. If so, the rationale behind this stand despite wide opposition from different quarters on this issue; and
5. The steps taken by the Government to ensure that the religious rights of the citizen are protected as enshrined in Constitution?

MPs Arvind Ganpat Sawant and Vinayak Raut belonging to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena, Professor Sougata Ray from TMC, and BJP’s Rakesh Singh have asked the following question about the effect of the Uniform Civil Code on other laws:

1. Whether Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is being drafted to be implemented in the country and if so, the details and the time-frame thereof along with the stand of the Government thereon;
2. Whether various religious groups have been taken into confidence regarding its implementation, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
3. Whether the adoption of cultures, beliefs, and traditions of tribal communities is a challenging factor for UCC and may cause difficulties in its implementation;
4. If so, the details thereof along with the measures proposed to keep them out of the ambit of UCC;
5. Whether the Government has analysed the likely effect of the implementation of UCC on other laws and if so, the details thereof and the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to address such situations; and
6. Whether the UCC is likely to be a single code for everyone like CrPC and IPC and if so, the details thereof?

On July 14, which was the last day of the deadline, the Law Commission decided to extend the time given for stakeholders to submit suggestions and objections by another two weeks “in view of the overwhelming response from the public”. The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 20 and is expected to have 17 sittings till August 11.