Consultations on Uniform Civil Code soon, says govt

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 12

The government today said the Uniform Civil Code needs to be implemented but after wider consultations with stakeholders and that the process for it would be started “at the earliest”.

“We will initiate our deliberations and discussions as early as possible. We would like to see that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is there in the country so that it leaves a very good impression all over the world,” Law Minister Sadanand Gowda told the Rajya Sabha as the Congress tried to corner him, insisting that he makes it clear whether the government was going to implement the contentious UCC or not.

Saying that Gowda’s reply on the issue was full of “ambiguity and ambivalence” and “confusing,” Congress leader Rajiv Shukla demanded to know “what exactly the government is going to do”.

Notably, the code has always been BJP’s key poll plank and had also formed an integral part of its recent Lok Sabha manifesto.

In reply, Gowda said the government would move forward because Article 44 of the Constitution mandates that “we have a Uniform Civil Code”. However, he added any movement forward would only be after there was absolute clarity on various issues related to it. He also made it clear the code should not be in conflict with Article 25 of the Constitution, which deals with fundamental right to freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.