UNIFORM CIVIL CODE: EXPLAINED
What is a Uniform Civil Code?
A plan to create and implement personal laws for citizens that apply to everybody equally, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or religion, is referred to as the Uniform Civil Code in India. It aims to provide everyone access to common laws that will promote social justice and gender equality. With the implementation of a unified civil code, all citizens will be treated fairly by the government regardless of their religion or organization.
Why it is Important?
It is now commonly understood in the modern world that has unique laws governing the exclusive concerns of a certain religion is a reason for great worry. The nation’s unity is seriously threatened by having specific laws since there is a persistent clash between the principles and ideology of various religion practices. Additionally, it makes it challenging for judicial institutions to resolve disputes where several laws apply to the same set of circumstances, requiring them to apply different laws each time a disagreement occurs and causing unnecessary delay.
For Example, When Muslim law permits polygamy, which enables a man to marry up to four women in his lifetime, Hindu law prohibits such bigamy, which means a partner cannot remarry while their spouse is still alive or in the same room.
Similar to Muslim law, Hindu law prohibits the husband from considering the wife for marriage but allows it. This sort of differentiation produced artificial rigidity while dealing with disputes in modern times, when there are many cases that are still pending before the whole judicial system. Due to the fact that if there were a universal law, all citizens would be treated equally regardless of their caste, religion, tradition, etc., disparities in the laws handling specific issues in the country would not exist and would not pose a threat to its overall development.
There are numerous differences between the particular rules of one faith and those of another that only apply to certain items in the country; these variations need to be examined and converted into a single, equivalent law in the country.
What Benefits Does the Uniform Civil Code Offer?
It is evidence that the country has moved away from caste and religious politics and is now modern and progressive. Our social progress has lagged, even though our economic growth has been tremendous. A UCC will advance society and propel India closer to its objective of being a fully developed country.
One of the main advantages of the Uniform Civil Code is the development of female equality. The laws of several religions act against women in matters of property, marriage, and divorce. A unified civil code would ensure equal legal protection for women and contribute to the eradication of discrimination based on gender.
It Promotes True Secularism: A universal civil code simply implies that everyone in India must abide by the same rules, regardless of their faith, and that everyone will be treated equally. This promotes true secularism.
Another advantage of having a consistent civil code is the encouragement of national unity. India is home to people from many different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Personal norms based on religious texts separate people. By establishing unity, a Uniform Civil Code will enhance the nation.
All Indians will Be Treated Equally – All Indians should be treated equally under all laws pertaining to marriage, inheritance, family, land, etc. UCC is the only means through which it is possible to ensure that all Indians are treated equally.
In conclusion, for India to become a modern, progressive nation, a consistent civil code is necessary. It will improve social justice, national harmony, and gender equality. However, for it to be put into practise, everyone in society needs to be considerate and cooperative. The government should take steps to start a dialogue with all parties in order to make sure that the Uniform Civil Code is applied in a way that respects the country’s cultural diversity while achieving female parity and social justice.