Uniform Civil Code key to national integration; need consensus for implementation: Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi

Speaking at the ‘Surat Litfest 2025’, the Rajya Sabha MP supported the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea and said frequent polls affect governance, strain the administration and finance, and cause election fatigue.

Ahmedabad: Former chief justice of India and Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Gogoi on Sunday said that "Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a very progressive piece of legislation" and a "constitutional goal" which should come into effect after building consensus among people.

The ex-CJI was addressing a session at "Surat Litfest 2025" moderated by Prafulla Ketkar, the editor of RSS mouthpiece Organiser.

Responding to a question on UCC, Gogoi said, "I see Uniform Civil Code as a very progressive piece of legislation which will replace diverse customary practices that have evolved into law. There is no quarrel that it is a constitutional goal... in Article 47. So, that is the goal, and one day we have to..."

He added, "It is a very important step towards national integration...the people of this country have one goal-national integration. To achieve social justice, including gender justice, and let's be clear on one thing, it doesn't come into conflict with Article 25 and 26 (right to religion). UCC will touch what... adoption, marriage, divorce, inheritance. It is working wonderfully in Goa. Therefore, I think what needs to be done, according to me, is consensus building and checking the misinformation. it has nothing to do with religion..."

Giving examples of how the Supreme Court in five cases including Shah Bao (right of Muslim women to seek maintenance) asked what the government was doing with regard to UCC implementation as it couldn't have passed any direction to the government for its implementation.

"It is the only way to bring the nation together. Today, you have diverse practices and customs culminating into laws governing civil matters, personal matters and affecting social justice. A nation can't afford to have so many laws..." Gogoi said.

However, he opined that the government and parliamentarians should not "rush into it.".

"Build up a consensus ...tell the people of the nation what UCC really is ...and then once you build consensus, people will understand. One section of the population will never understand or they will pretend not to understand...forget that. But, by and large. people will..," the former CJI said.

Only one reform is needed that is getting good people to become judges. "There are 24,000 judges in the country which should be raised to one lakh. Get good people out of 140 crore population who mean business. You have never endeavoured to find out what this man's true character is. Is he compassionate, kind? Is he a good man...does he have a mission in life," he said.