Gujarat to form committee for implement Uniform Civil code

Harsh Sanghavi, the home minister of Gujarat, announced on Saturday that a committee would be formed to apply the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. This decision was made in a cabinet meeting

“Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Bhupendra Patel has taken a historic decision in the cabinet meeting today – of forming a committee for implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state,” said Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi.

Gujarat’s state government declared that a panel would be established to assess how well the Uniform Civil Code has been implemented in the state before the 2018 Assembly elections. A former High Court judge is likely to head the committee when it is established.

The governments of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have already declared their intention to adopt the Uniform Civil Code.

A plan to create and implement a uniform civil code in India would ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or religion, are subject to the same personal rules.

The UCC has received support from numerous political figures, who claim that it will promote equality throughout the nation.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has, however, called it “an unconstitutional and anti-minorities move” and criticised the rhetoric used by the governments of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the central government to promote the law as a means of deflecting attention from issues like inflation, the economy, and rising unemployment.

The Centre informed the Supreme Court earlier this month that it could not order Parliament to draught or pass any legislation establishing a uniform civil code for the nation.

According to the Ministry of Law and Justice’s affidavit, the subject of policy is up to the elected officials of the people to decide, and the Center cannot give any directives in this regard. The ministry informed the supreme court that it was up to the legislature to decide whether or not to pass a piece of law.

In particular, the Bharatiya Janata Party pledged to implement UCC if it wins the 2019 Lok Sabha election.