Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves Uniform Civil Code
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh cabinet has approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, paving the way for a common civil law in the state that bans triple talaq, polygamy and nikah halala, while making registration of live-in relationships mandatory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Bill will be introduced during the Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly that began on Monday.
The cabinet meeting was held at the historic Jagdishpur Fort, previously known as Islam Nagar.
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said that as far as the UCC Bill was concerned, only one marriage would be recognised in the state. He said divorce would not be granted by merely uttering ‘Talaq’ thrice and would only be possible through a proper legal process. The UCC Bill respects all religions and no effort has been made to demean any religion. Everyone is free to practice their own religion, he added.
“Through this bill, we believe Madhya Pradesh is moving towards establishing a major law that will provide equal rights and opportunities to everyone, whether Ram or Rahim. Before implementing this Act, although a bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly, we wanted to connect directly with the common people and communicate the details…,” the chief minister said.
The marriage age has been fixed and registration of marriages has been made mandatory. Equal rights in property have been ensured for men and women.
More than 80 percent of women backed the UCC Bill, he said. Yadav said the government had formed a committee to seek public suggestions on the UCC. Suggestions were also taken from political parties. However, the Congress distanced itself from the hearing held on the UCC. He appealed to all political parties to rise above party lines and support the implementation of the UCC.
The draft UCC prohibits polygamy and makes monogamy mandatory across all communities. It also provides for imprisonment and fines for violations of provisions related to live-in relationships.
It should be noted that BJP-ruled states are rapidly implementing the Uniform Civil Code, which is a cause of great concern for Muslims. Muslim organizations, like the Muslim Personal Law Board, believe that the Uniform Civil Code is not only against Shariah but also against the rights of minorities under the Constitution.
Muslims believe that their Shariah laws apply in matters like marriage, divorce, and inheritance. The implementation of the Uniform Civil Code will affect this process.
