Law panel on UCC being treated in cavalier manner: Jairam slams govt

As the Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday pointed out that the 21st Law Commission had said that the UCC was “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage”.

Taking to X, Ramesh recalled that the 21st Law Commission, which was appointed by the Modi government, had submitted its 182-page ‘Consultation Paper on Reform of Family Law’ on August 31, 2018, expressing its views against the UCC.

“While the diversity of Indian culture can and should be celebrated, specific groups or weaker sections of society must not be dis-privileged in the process. The resolution of this conflict does not mean the abolition of all differences. This commission has, therefore, dealt with laws that are discriminatory rather than providing a UCC, which is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. Most countries are now moving towards the recognition of difference and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination, but is indicative of a robust democracy,” Ramesh said, quoting from the Consultation Paper released on August 31, 2018, by the 21st Law Commission, headed by Justice (retd) BS Chauhan.

Ramesh said, “Then, in a press note published on June 14, 2023, the 22nd Law Commission of India had notified its intention to once again examine the UCC. This was being done, the press note clarified, on a reference sent by the Ministry of Law and Justice. However, the Law Commission was finally wound up on August 31, 2024, without submitting its report on the UCC.”

He said, “The 23rd Law Commission was announced on September 3, 2024, but its actual composition has not yet been announced. Why is the Modi govt treating such a respected body like the Law Commission in such a cavalier manner, especially on such a sensitive subject?”