Gov’t extends time for submission of suggestions over uniform civil code in India

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, Friday extended the time for the submission of suggestions over uniform civil code for the followers of all religions.

"The Law Commission has decided to grant an extension of two weeks (until July 28) for the submission of views and suggestions by the concerned stakeholders," an official notice by Indian Law Commission read.

The BJP move, ahead of general elections next year, has triggered concern among Muslims and other minorities in the world's largest Hindu-populated nation.

Last month, India's largest socioreligious Muslim organization rejected the government's move to seek public and religious organizations' views on the uniform civil code, which meant that all people, regardless of region or religion, would be subject to the same set of civil laws.

The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind said that the Uniform Civil Code is completely contrary to the religious freedom and fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens in Articles 25, and 26 of the Constitution and that the organization will protest it within the legal framework.

The civil code governs marriage, divorce, succession, and other major social issues, and Muslims publicly protested against changes to Islamic laws, particularly those pertaining to divorce, when the Law Commission of India first proposed them in 2018.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid