NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, OCT 29
While BJP governments in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh had already announced the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), in their states, the Gujarat government also ruled by the BJP has decided to form a committee to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), it said on Saturday.
गुजरात में "यूनिफॉर्म सिविल कोड" को लागू करने की दिशा में उच्चस्तरीय कमेटी का गठन किया जाएगा।#UCCInGujarat
— Harsh Sanghavi (Modi ka Parivar) (@sanghaviharsh) October 29, 2022
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting which could be the last meeting under the present BJP government as Assembly elections are expected to be announced in the state by the next week.
One Nation One Law One Civil Code ; Gujarat cabinet under CM Sri @Bhupendrapbjp resolves to form a panel to suggest ways to implement Uniform Civil Code . #UCCinGujarat
— B L Santhosh ( Modi Ka Parivar ) (@blsanthosh) October 29, 2022
Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi and Union Minister Parshottam Rupala informed the reporters about the decision.
રાજ્યમાં સમાન સીવીલ કોડ (Uniform Civil Code)ની આવશ્યકતા ચકાસવા તથા આ કોડ માટેનો મુસદ્દો તૈયાર કરવા સુપ્રિમ કોર્ટ/હાઇકોર્ટના નિવૃત્ત ન્યાયાધીશશ્રીની અધ્યક્ષતામાં ઉચ્ચકક્ષાની સમિતિની રચના કરવાનો મહત્વપૂર્ણ નિર્ણય આજે રાજ્ય મંત્રીમંડળની બેઠકમાં લેવામાં આવ્યો છે.
— Bhupendra Patel (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Bhupendrapbjp) October 29, 2022
“The committee will be headed by a retired High Court judge and have three to four members. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has been given powers by the cabinet to select members of the committee,” Rupala said.
Live: Press Conference at State BJP HQ. https://t.co/IN6gEc5rwP
— Parshottam Rupala (मोदी का परिवार) (@PRupala) October 29, 2022
The committee will be formed before the model code of conduct for elections comes into force, he added.
The Government of Gujarat through #UniformCivilCode is set to empower every citizen of the State with equal legal security & protection.
I welcome this law and congratulate CM @Bhupendrapbjp ji and Govt of Gujarat for this historic decision of bringing uniformity.#UCCinGujarat
— Darshana Jardosh (मोदी का परिवार) (@DarshanaJardosh) October 29, 2022
Sanghavi said the decision was taken as per the provisions of Article 44 of Part 4 of the Constitution which expects the state government to apply common law for all citizens.
गुजरात में यूनिफॉर्म सिविल कोड का कार्यान्वयन राज्य सरकार की मजबूत राजनीतिक इच्छाशक्ति का एक मजबूत उदाहरण है जो स्पष्ट रूप से दर्शाता है कि गुजरात सरकार हमेशा अपने नागरिकों की भलाई के लिए प्रतिबद्ध है।#UCCinGujarat
— Parshottam Rupala (मोदी का परिवार) (@PRupala) October 29, 2022
“This is a historic decision by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Our government has honoured the wish of common people as well as BJP workers to have such a code,” Sanghavi said.
- The Hindu Marriage Act and Muslim personal laws will be covered under the UCC as these laws are not part of the Constitution: Rupala
- The committee will be formed before the model code of conduct for elections comes into force: Union Minister
- People won’t be misled, state has no power to make such laws: Congress
Rupala asserted that the proposed UCC will not violate the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
The Hindu Marriage Act and Muslim personal laws will be covered under the UCC as these laws are not part of the Constitution, the Union minister added.
“We do not intend to override the fundamental rights of the people. UCC is about resolving discrepancies which arise in civil disputes, such as wife or daughter’s claim on husband or father’s property. We had received many representations from people about such issues,” said Rupala.
The decision had nothing to do with the coming Assembly polls, he claimed, and dismissed the criticism by the opposition that the ruling BJP was trying to polarize Hindu votes by promising UCC.
The committee will evaluate various aspects related to the UCC and submit its report, based on which the state government will take a final decision about its implementation, Rupala said.
No deadline has been set for the committee to submit its report as of now, he said.
Earlier in July, the union government said it does not propose to set up a committee to implement a uniform civil code (UCC) and added that it has asked the Law Commission to examine various issues on the matter and make recommendations.
People won’t be misled, state has no power to make such laws: Congress
શ્રી જગદીશ ઠાકોર અને શ્રી અર્જુનભાઈ મોઢવાડીયાની 'યુનિફોર્મ સિવિલ કોડ' અંગે વિશેષ પત્રકારવાર્તા. https://t.co/p0G1LTXmoM
— Gujarat Congress (@INCGujarat) October 29, 2022
The Gujarat Congress on Saturday said people would not be misled by the BJP government’s decision to form a committee for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.
Congress’ Gujarat unit president Jagdish Thakor said: “BJP is trying to divert people’s attention from core issues like inflation, unemployment as the ruling party does not have satisfactory answers to it.”
Calling it a “gimmick” ahead of Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia said the state legislature has no power to make such laws.
“This gimmick is aimed at misleading the public who are suffering due to inflation and joblessness and a host of other problems because of the failure of the government. The power to implement the Uniform Civil Code lies with the Centre. Personal laws were passed by Parliament, and the Gujarat Assembly does not have the power to make this law,” Modhwadia said at a press conference. “The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 27 years and it has been in power at the Centre for eight years. Now that the Assembly elections are round the corner, the decision regarding the Uniform Civil Code does not make sense,” he added.
The BJP was using this “trick” as the people are determined to throw out the state government which has left the youth, farmers, cattle herders and all other segments of society frustrated, the Congress leader claimed.
