Indian State Passes Controversial Uniform Civil Code

Facts

• The northern Indian state of Uttarakhand last week passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a sweeping legislation that many Muslims claim violates their religious laws.¹
• The landmark law, which the state's lawmakers claim is 'aimed at creating equality for women,' governs a wide range of personal issues such as marriage, divorce, adoption, and inheritance.²
• It not only codifies a ban on polygamy and child marriages but also establishes a standardized marriageable age for all women, regardless of their religion. Furthermore, the UCC bans certain Islamic practices that women must go through after divorce or the death of a spouse.³
• The UCC also requires unmarried couples in live-in relationships to submit a statement to the registrar, who can either approve or reject the union based on a summary inquiry.⁴
• The legislation is expected to serve as a catalyst for other states to follow. According to the state's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Article 44 of India's constitution outlines the government's right to create new laws on personal matters.²
• Critics allege that the UCC's prohibition on polygamy and regulation of other practices permissible in Islam violates the religious freedom of the country's 200M Muslims.⁵

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Time, ³NDTV, ⁴BBC News and ⁵US News & World Report.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Scroll.in. Uttarakhand's Uniform Civil Code is an invasive and theocratic piece of legislation that infringes on the rights of religious minorities. As a multireligious democracy, India must protect all citizens' rights to practice their religious customs. However, Hindu nationalists in the Bharatiya Janata Party are exerting their dominance on minorities, particularly Muslims, by implementing social laws that are defined by Hindu doctrine. The UCC may be portrayed as a compromise that seeks to promote equality, but it's just an anti-Islam, pro-Hindu law.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Times of India. The people of Uttarakhand have longed for a standardized civil code, and the state's assembly has delivered a sweeping law that codifies women's rights and promotes equality. A thriving democracy respects the will of the people, and the UCC aligns with the wishes of Uttarakhand's citizens. Officials throughout the state are committed to peace and unity among all citizens across many religions. Last week's bill respects the religious rights of all communities while promoting a moral and equitable standard.

Predictions