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Uniform Civil Code: AIMPLB to ask Law Commission for more time
The Law Commission initiated a fresh consultation process on the Uniform Civil Code by seeking views from stakeholders, including public and recognised religious organisations
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has decided to ask for more time from the Law Commission so that more and more people can present their views on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The AIMPLB has asked for an appointment with the Law Commission to put its point of view before the panel.
AIMPLB spokesperson Qasim Ilyas Rasool on Wednesday said, “India has a population of 140 crore and the one month given by the Law Commission to react to an important issue like Uniform Civil Code is not enough. We request the Law Commission to increase the time limit.”
“However, the draft reply of AIMPLB is ready and shared with its members for any sort of correction. A 15-member legal team of AIMPLB will re-evaluate it once it comes back with the suggestions of its members. But it’s our aim to file our response before the Law Commission in the first week of July,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Law Commission initiated a fresh consultation process on the Uniform Civil Code by seeking views from stakeholders, including public and recognised religious organisations.
“We discussed the draft with 35 members who were present in the meeting along with All India Muslim Personal Law Board president Saifullah Rehmani, general secretary Maulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, Islamic Centre of India chairman Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali with all the members of executive committee and legal team were present. Many shared their ideas. Many (others) said that they will give their opinion with corrections in the draft after Bakrid. Following, that we decided to submit our points in front of the commission in the first week of July,” he said.
The draft would be shared with media also on that day.
The Board held a meeting Tuesday night through video conferencing in which the draft document to be submitted to the Law Commission was discussed.
“We have sought a physical meeting with the Law Commission to highlight the fact that they have not asked for a reply or reaction on any specific point; neither they have come up with the draft, they have just asked for our reply or opinion on vague points. They should realise that the Uniform Civil Code will not only affect Muslims but other communities too,” Qasim Ilyas Rasool said.
“It’s the duty of the Law Commission to meet people from every faith, listen to their points of view before coming to any sort of conclusion,” he added.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in Bhopal over UCC was also discussed.
Addressing a gathering of BJP workers in Bhopal on Tuesday, Modi called for implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and said the Constitution also mentions about giving equal rights to all citizens. He also said that the BJP has decided it would not adopt the path of appeasement and vote bank politics, and alleged that the Opposition was using the issue of UCC to mislead and provoke the Muslim community.
The AIMPLB is a non-governmental organisation that represents the interests of Muslims in matters of personal law. It was formed in 1973 with the objective of protecting and promoting the application of Islamic personal law among Muslims in India.
