Karnataka HC urges Centre, states to implement Uniform Civil Code

The Karnataka High Court on Friday urged the Union and state governments to work towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code to fully realise the ideals outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution, Bar and Bench reported.

The Uniform Civil Code is a common set of laws governing marriage, divorce, succession and adoption for all citizens. Currently, such personal affairs of different religious and tribal groups are based on community-specific laws, largely derived from religious scripture.

Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar made the observations in a judgement related to the inheritance of property by a Muslim woman, Shahnaz Begum, who died in 2014, The Indian Express reported.

Begum’s siblings moved the High Court in 2020 against the property share granted to her by a lower court.

“The court is of the opinion that bringing a law on Uniform Civil Code and its enforcement certainly give justice to women, achieve equality of status and opportunity for all and accelerate the dream of equality among all women in India irrespective of caste and religion and also assure dignity individually through fraternity,” Bar and Bench quoted Friday’s order as stating.

Despite women being equal citizens under the Constitution, Sanjeevkumar said that personal laws based on religion created distinctions among them and resulted in their differential treatment.

Under Hindu law, a daughter had equal birthrights and status as a son,...

Read more