Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
| Photo Credit: PTI
A day after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the rules under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) have been approved and will be implemented soon, the Congress on Tuesday (January 21, 2025) pointed out that the 22nd Law Commission had been wound up without submitting its report on the UCC.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh noted that while the 23rd Law Commission has been announced, the actual composition of the new panel is yet to be revealed. Why is the Modi government treating such a respected body in such a “cavalier manner”, Mr. Ramesh asked.
Referring to the 22nd Law Commission’s 182-page consultation paper on ‘Reform of Family Law’, Mr. Ramesh said that Para 1.15 says: “While diversity of Indian culture can and should be celebrated, specific groups, or weaker sections of society must not be dis-privileged in the process. Resolution of this conflict does not mean abolition of all differences. This Commission has therefore dealt with laws that are discriminatory rather than providing a uniform civil code which is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. Most countries are now moving towards recognition of difference and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination, but is indicative of a robust democracy.”
On June 14, 2023, the 22nd Law Commission notified its intention, through a press statement, to once again examine the UCC, after the issue was referred to the Commission by the Ministry of Law and Justice. However, the 22nd Law Commission was finally wound up on August 31, 2024, without submitting its report on the UCC, Mr. Ramesh added.
“The 23rd Law Commission was announced on September 3, 2024, but its actual composition has not yet been announced. Why is the Modi government treating such a respected body like the Law Commission in such a cavalier manner, especially on such a sensitive subject?” he asked.
Published – January 21, 2025 09:57 pm IST
