Deciphering the Constitutional Directive of the Uniform Civil Code/Resolving the ucc Dilemma

Abstract

The Indian Constitution recognises and accommodates the social and legal diversity of the country. It is interesting to note that it leaves the family outside the discipline of Fundamental Rights. Unlike many other Constitutions, neither does it contain a Fundamental Right to family nor does it disturb it by bringing the personal laws within the domain of law. The term Uniform Civil Code implies that it is applicable to all as a general rule and many support this view. Personal laws are an integral part of religion and, therefore, the enactment of Civil Code is an interference with religion. The vast majority of Muslim in India adheres to this view that the Uniform Civil Code would interfere in the personal law. The present paper aims to examine the feasibility of the implementation of Uniform Civil Code in India in the context of the recent push by the government of India. Recognising the interplay between the fundamental rights and the constitutional directives in the context of the debate around Uniform Civil Code, the paper also outlines in brief Part iii and Part iv of the Constitution and their relationships.