Uniform Civil Code: Govt does not intend to review its stand on triple talaq, says Union Law Minister

Delhi: Even as the All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board and various other outfits on Thursday opposed the Law Commission's questionnaire on Uniform Civil Code, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the Narendra Modi government does not intend to review its “considered” observation on the issue.

“This is a well thought out and considered view of the government in pursuit of gender equality and dignity of women,” Prasad told Hindustan Times in an interview.

Prasad added, "There are many Islamic countries in the world, who have regulated triple talaq. They have made provision for arbitration and conciliation. At some places, only court decides in such matter. You simply cannot say talaq-talaq-talaq. We have taken a position that if Islamic countries have regulated their matrimonial laws, which has not been found violative of the Sharia, how can the same argument be raised in a secular country like India."

"Countries such as Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Indonesia, Egypt, Iran and even Pakistan have regulated their laws much earlier. Agar wahan ho sakta hai to bharat mein kyon nahi (“If it can happen there, why can’t it happen in India)," he said.

AIMPLB, Muslim outfits oppose questionnaire on civil code

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in the national capital, AIMPLB contended that UCC, if implemented, will paint all people in 'one colour' which will threaten the country's pluralism and diversity.

Trashing government's stand on the issue of triple talaq, the outfits instead claimed the community has reported lesser number of divorce cases vis-a-vis other communities, especially the Hindu community which, they said, has reported higher divorce ratio according to Census 2011.

AIMPLB general secretary Wali Rehmani, Jamiat-Ulema -e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani and representatives of other bodies said all the Muslim sects and its women were 'one' on these issues.

The Board said that there were 'flaws' in the personal laws governing Muslims and they were being addressed from time-to-time.

They said the country was facing problems on various fronts including the LoC and issues like killings elsewhere.

"This is all destructive. The government should try to fix this and ensure peace than seeking views on issues like UCC," Madani said, as per PTI.

Contrary to the Commission's claim that the step is an 'endeavour' to address discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise the various cultural practices, Rehmani said when implemented the UCC will bring to an end country's pluralism and paint all in 'one colour' and end diversity and pluralism.

"People of different cultures stay in this country. If the UCC is implemented, attempts will be made to paint all in one colour, which is not in the interest of the country. Also, we don't want the practice of triple talaq to be abolished. There are more divorces in other communities. Rather the highest rate, which is double that of Muslims, is among Hindus," he claimed. 

(With Agency inputs)