Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind on Monday opposed the Uniform Civil Code, saying it is against the right to religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.
The demand for a Uniform Civil Code is nothing but an attempt to curtail citizens’ religious freedoms, said one of India’s Muslim organisations. The JUH said it could not compromise on religious affairs and worship in any way.
The statement came days after the Law Commission sought the views of citizens and religious organisations on the question of whether a Uniform Civil Code should be formulated.
However, the JUH chief, Arshad Madani, said that his organisation would not take to the streets against the proposal but would instead oppose it within the ambit of the law.
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) calls for the formulation of one law for India, which would be applicable to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. The Hindu nationalists have for decades campaigned for the application of UCC, which minorities believe would be tantamount to the imposition of Hindu laws.
The JUH said that Article 44 of the Constitution was being used keeping a particular sect in mind to mislead the majority. The constitutional provisions states that the State “shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India,” Madani said.
The Muslim group said that religious freedom is part of the spirit of the Constitution, while Article 44 is part of the Directive Principles, and is therefore optional. It said that people with a certain mindset were trying to mislead the majority community by claiming that the UCC is part of the Constitution.
