The Pursuit of a Uniform Civil Code in India

One Nation, One Law: The Pursuit of a Uniform Civil Code in India

As India strides into the future, the call for One Nation, One Law echoes through its diverse landscape. The call isn’t for homogeneity but for unifying various personal laws under the umbrella called the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). With it comes the promise of equality, but also concerns about cultural erasure. How do we balance these contrasting narratives?

The Roots of Disparity

India’s tryst with disparate personal laws is as old as its history. Even until the 1950s, practices like untouchability were legal, reflecting laws that were out of step with the ethos of an independent nation committed to egalitarian principles. These laws varied by religion, with Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Parsis all following distinct personal laws, leading to societal fissures. Personal laws governed intimate aspects of life - marriage, divorce, succession, and maintenance, often leading to gender disparities and community-specific rights.

The Constitutional Premise and Article 44

When India’s constitution was adopted, it recognized the need for a UCC, enshrined as a goal in Article 44. However, it was a directive principle, not an enforceable right, reflecting the pragmatic acknowledgement of the socio-economic diversity and limitations of post-independence India. Over the years, laws passed such as the Hindu code bills have brought some uniformity, but a nationwide UCC long remained a distant goal. That changed at the state level when Uttarakhand became the first state to enact one: the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024 was passed by the state assembly in February 2024 and brought into force on 27 January 2025, governing matters such as marriage, divorce, succession, and live-in relationships for residents of the state (Scheduled Tribes are exempted).

Understanding the UCC

The UCC is not a call to homogenize religious practices or rituals. At its core, it seeks to ensure that all citizens of India, irrespective of their religion, have the same civil laws, particularly in the areas of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. For instance, while the general criminal law makes bigamy an offence - now under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (formerly Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code, which was repealed when the BNS came into force on 1 July 2024) - Muslim men have historically been treated as an exception due to their personal law. Likewise, inheritance laws vary, with Muslim women often inheriting less than their male counterparts, starkly contrasting with Hindu women who inherit equally following the amendment of Hindu laws.

Debates and Deliberations

Debates around UCC have been fierce and polarizing. On one side are those who argue for secularism and gender justice, envisaging a UCC as a means to end discriminatory practices. On the other are those who view it as a threat to religious freedom and cultural identity. A nuanced approach is essential, one that understands the UCC as a means of standardizing legal frameworks, not religious doctrines.

Landmark Judgments and Judicial Interventions

The Indian judiciary has often stepped in to strike a balance between religious personal laws and constitutional morality. Landmark cases such as Shah Bano and Shayara Bano reflect the ongoing struggle to harmonize religious personal laws with the ideals of justice, equality, and human dignity enshrined in the Constitution. The judiciary’s role in interpreting these laws vis-a-vis fundamental rights has been pivotal in exposing contradictions and pushing for progressive change.

The Path Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The idea of a UCC is appealing, but its implementation is fraught with challenges. It requires consensus building, a deep understanding of the nuances of various personal laws, and sensitivity towards the cultural and religious diversity of India. Conversely, the UCC provides an opportunity for transformative reforms that can deliver true gender equality and social justice.

Balancing Diversity with Uniformity

India’s strength lies in its diversity, and any UCC needs to respect and preserve this. True uniformity isn’t about a one-size-fits-all solution but about creating a framework that ensures equal rights, protects individual freedoms, and promotes national integration. For example, practical steps towards this could begin with a common ground like mandatory registration of all marriages, as it doesn’t infringe upon religious ceremonies but ensures a standardized legal record.

Gender Justice and Equality

A significant advantage of a UCC would be its impact on gender justice. Currently, personal laws can perpetuate gender bias, whether it’s about inheritance rights or maintenance claims after divorce. A UCC could address these issues head-on, creating a gender-just legal framework where one’s rights are not determined by gender or religion.

The Road to Consensus

Crucially, India’s journey towards achieving a UCC is about consultation, debate, and consensus. The 21st Law Commission’s 2018 consultation paper on reform of family law is a testament to this, highlighting that while uniformity in certain areas is desirable, a wholesale replacement of personal laws was neither necessary nor desirable at that stage. The Commission suggested instead that reforming existing personal laws to remove discriminatory practices would be a more realistic approach. The 22nd Law Commission subsequently revisited the subject, issuing a fresh public notice in June 2023 inviting views from stakeholders and the public, signalling that the debate remains very much alive.

Conclusion: Crafting a Cohesive Future

The dialogue around One Nation, One Law and a UCC is, at its heart, a conversation about the India we aspire to build. It’s about creating a just society that values equality and unity while embracing diversity. This conversation must continue with the understanding that while laws serve as the foundation for societal norms, they must be shaped by the people they serve, reflecting their aspirations and values. It’s not just about drafting laws but about weaving the fabric of society with threads of justice, equality, and human dignity. As India moves forward, the hope is to see a UCC emerge not as a point of contention but as a beacon of an inclusive and progressive India.