SC reiterates support for UCC

BACKING THE CASE for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, the Supreme Court said Tuesday it is the “most effective answer’ to address provisions in the Shariat law of 1937 that allegedly discriminate against Muslim women, including in matters of inheritance.

- ANANTHAKRISHNAN G

The bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and R Mahadevan said securing a UCC should be left to “the wisdom of the legislature” rather than the court stepping in to declare the provisions unlawful and creating an “unnecessary void”.

“The most effective answer is the Uniform Civil Code,” the CJI said as the bench heard a plea challenging provisions of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, which the petitioners said discriminated against Muslim women in matters of succession, etc.