Congress calls for consensus on Uniform Civil Code, slams BJP's 'divisive agenda'

Party Opposes Piecemeal UCC Implementation, Stresses Need for Inclusive Discussion

New Delhi, February 8

The Congress on Thursday reiterated that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), as envisioned under Article 44 of the Constitution, should be implemented only after widespread consultation and a genuine national consensus. The party cautioned against using the UCC as a political tool to create "permanent polarisation" in the country.

The opposition party’s remarks follow the BJP-led Uttarakhand government’s recent implementation of a UCC in the state and Gujarat’s decision to form a committee under a retired Supreme Court judge to assess the need for such a code and prepare a draft bill.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, criticized the Uttarakhand UCC, calling it a “poorly drafted piece of legislation” that is intrusive and does not address genuine concerns over family law reforms. “This is not an instrument of legal reform but a part of the BJP’s divisive agenda,” Ramesh said in a statement.

Highlighting the Gujarat government’s recent move to introduce a UCC, Ramesh noted that the Uttarakhand law exempts scheduled tribes, raising questions about its uniformity. He pointed to the 21st Law Commission’s 2018 report on family law reform, which stated that enforcing a UCC at this stage was "neither necessary nor desirable." The report emphasized that diversity does not imply discrimination but rather reflects a robust democracy.

Ramesh also criticized the government for the lack of progress on the issue, noting that while the 22nd Law Commission had announced its intent to examine the UCC, it was dissolved in August 2024 without submitting a report. The newly formed 23rd Law Commission, announced in September 2024, has yet to disclose its composition.

He stressed that the Constituent Assembly never envisioned multiple state-level UCCs, arguing that such fragmented implementations contradict the very idea of a national uniform civil code. “A true UCC can only emerge through a structured debate, discussion, and consensus-building, not as a political instrument to divide society,” Ramesh asserted.

With the debate over UCC gaining momentum, the Congress continues to advocate for an inclusive and democratic approach, warning against piecemeal and politically motivated implementations that could deepen divisions rather than unify the nation.