Minority rights leader writes to Gujarat MLAs opposing ‘unconstitutional’ UCC Bill

By A Representative 

In an open letter addressed to all Members of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Mujahid Nafees, the Convenor of the Minority Coordination Committee, has voiced strong opposition to the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, which he has termed an "unconstitutional Targeted Civil Code." 

The letter, issued ahead of the Bill's expected introduction in the state assembly on March 25, urges legislators to reject the legislation on grounds of violating fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

Nafees’s letter argues that the proposed code infringes upon the personal freedoms guaranteed to citizens, specifically citing Articles 25, 26, 28, and 29, which protect the rights to religious freedom and cultural identity. 

He contends that the Bill undermines the principle of adult decision-making, erodes religious identity, and seeks to alter established inheritance and adoption procedures for Muslim and Christian communities. 

The letter further warns that the legislation would impact the distinct religious identities and marriage practices of Jain and Sikh communities, including the Anand Karaj ceremony.

Raising a critical point about the Bill’s nomenclature, the letter questions how a code that reportedly excludes the state’s tribal population—which constitutes approximately 14.75% of Gujarat’s total population—can be justifiably called “Uniform.” 

It also references the experience in Uttarakhand, suggesting that the implementation of such a code is likely to lead to prolonged and more complex legal disputes rather than reducing them.

The letter highlights the public consultation process conducted by the UCC committee, noting that a significant campaign was launched by the Minority Coordination Committee to gauge public sentiment. According to Nafees, over 203,821 people expressed their opposition to the proposed law by registering missed calls, while lakhs more submitted their dissent via email to the committee. 

He concludes by appealing to the MLAs to read the Constitution and oppose what he describes as an unconstitutional code in the upcoming assembly session, thereby strengthening the constitutional framework of the nation.