Govt to start consultations on Uniform Civil Code

The Centre on Friday said it would move on the implementation of the controversial Uniform Civil Code as per the spirit of the Constitution, and start at the earliest the process of wider consultations for a consensus.

“I assure the House to move forward on the Uniform Civil Code, and it is our duty to implement it. We will move forward as mandated by the Constitution,” Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda told the Rajya Sabha.

Claiming that the code would strengthen the status of women, the minister said the government would initiate wider consultations at the earliest to evolve a consensus.

“The code is based on the assumption that personal laws based on scriptures and customs of each religious community in the country be replaced with a common set governing every citizen in a civilised society,” he said.

Referring to a form of such code in Goa, which is accepted by all in the state, Gowda said the aim was to have a similar code for the country.

He, however, made it clear that it should not be in conflict with Article 25 of the Constitution, which pertains to freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion.