In Dehradun, the presentation of the Uniform Civil Code in the assembly by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stirred controversy. Samajwadi Party MP ST Hasan asserted on Tuesday that the UCC contradicts the principles outlined in the Quran, the sacred text of the Muslim community. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) also expressed its disapproval of the proposed legislation.
“If the UCC Bill goes against the ‘hidayat’ (guidance) provided to Muslims in the Quran, we cannot endorse it. However, compliance is acceptable if it aligns with the ‘hidayat,'” Hasan conveyed to PTI.
Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, an executive member of the AIMPLB, highlighted that certain communities would be exempted from the proposed code.
“Can there be consistency in all laws when the UCC is implemented? Absolutely not. Uniformity is unattainable when specific communities are excluded. Our legal committee will scrutinize the draft and make decisions accordingly,” he remarked.
The pledge to introduce the UCC bill was made by the Bharatiya Janata Party during the 2022 Uttarakhand assembly elections.
Upon its enactment into law, the UCC will supersede individual religious laws governing aspects such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
Given the BJP’s significant majority in the state assembly, the bill is anticipated to pass without major obstacles.
The Congress clarified its stance, stating that it does not oppose the idea of a Uniform Civil Code but is critical of the procedural aspects surrounding its introduction.
“We are not against the Uniform Civil Code. The House operates under established rules of business, yet the BJP persists in disregarding them, seeking to stifle the voices of MLAs based on numerical strength. MLAs have the right to express their views on various state issues during the Assembly’s Question Hour, regardless of whether they propose under Rule 58 or other rules,” emphasized Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya.
Former Uttarakhand CM and Congress leader Harish Rawat criticized the state government’s haste in passing the bill, asserting that due process and rules are being overlooked.
“No one has access to the draft copy, and they demand an immediate discussion. The central government is employing a delicate state like Uttarakhand for symbolic gestures. If a Uniform Civil Code is to be implemented, it should be introduced by the central government,” Rawat conveyed to ANI.