Skip to main content

Gender equality claims under UCC a disguised attempt to implement majoritarianism

NFGIO's stand on uniform civil code: UCC threatens national unity:

***
National Federation of GIO on 14th July submitted a response letter to the Law Commission of India, regarding the public notice issued by the 22nd Law Commission, soliciting views and ideas on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). NFGIO examined how the implementation of UCC will affect diverse minorities and marginalized communities in India and indicated that gender justice can be achieved within the existing personal laws, and imposing a uniform code may inadvertently harm women's rights. UCC threatens the freedom to observe religious identity and practices, abolishing gender-specific protection guaranteed under various personal laws. 
The gender equality claims under UCC disguise the attempt to implement majoritarian principles on all citizens as seen in Special Marriage Act, a supposed uniform law model, which is based on majoritarian morality allowing exceptions to customary laws, with respect to un-codified Hindu customs. The 21st Law Commission report emphasised that secularism could not contradict the plurality prevalent in the country. NFGIO inspected how absolute equality can sometimes lead to injustice. The potential implementation of the UCC by amalgamating various religious codes may force individuals to adhere to laws derived from majoritarian principles, potentially threatening minority communities.
NFGIO pointed out how the Law Commission of India previously emphasized the importance of preserving the country's pluralistic nature, but now fresh views are being sought again without proper deliberation on previous reports and recommendations. This suggests a lack of comprehensive discussion and raises doubts about the intention behind the UCC discourse, which deliberately focuses on divisive issues rather than addressing important issues that are also a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, such as securing a basic living wage for workers, prohibition on alcohol, improving public health, or providing equal economic opportunities to all.
NFGIO analyzed that in the current situation, stirring up issues related to the UCC only serves to increase differences and create chaos, rather than contributing to the country's overall wellbeing, and demanded that the law commission contemplates its predecessor’s conclusion and respect legal pluralism in the country.

Comments

TRENDING

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Beyond data: The economist who refused to remain in the ivory tower

By Vikas Meshram   There are few people who are born into privilege yet choose to dedicate their lives to the cause of the poor. Jean Drèze is one such individual. Born on January 22, 1959, in Leuven, Belgium, into the family of a distinguished economist, Drèze has become one of the most influential voices in the study of poverty, inequality, and social policy in India. Having lived in India since 1979, he adopted Indian citizenship in 2002 and has since played a pivotal role in shaping some of the country's most important welfare initiatives.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah  Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".