{"id":153294,"date":"2025-01-28T20:32:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T15:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=editorial-analysis&#038;p=153294"},"modified":"2025-03-03T11:20:04","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T05:50:04","slug":"debate-on-uniform-civil-code","status":"publish","type":"editorial-analysis","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/debate-on-uniform-civil-code","title":{"rendered":"How Constituent Assembly Debated Uniform Civil Code"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Uttarakhand government on Monday became the<\/span><b> second state in the country, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and the<\/span><b> first to do so in independent India,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to implement a Uniform Civil Code\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Constituent Assembly Debate on UCC<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Background<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The debate on the <\/span><b>Uniform Civil Code (UCC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India dates back to the early 1940s, with significant discussions during the <\/span><b>committee stage of constitution-making<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 1947.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Committee Stage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The issue was raised in the <\/span><b>Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, deciding whether the UCC should be part of <\/span><b>justiciable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><b>non-justiciable fundamental rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The majority opted for the latter, integrating the UCC into the <\/span><b>Directive Principles of State Policy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dissenting Voices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><b>M R Masani, Hansa Mehta, and Amrit Kau<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">r dissented against the majority decision. They argued that India\u2019s division based on religious personal laws was hindering national unity.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These dissenters advocated for the UCC to be guaranteed to the people within five to ten years, highlighting its importance for national integration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>UCC in the Draft Constitution: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially drafted as <\/span><b>Article 35 in 1948,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it read, \u201cThe State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a <\/span><b>uniform civil code<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> throughout the territory of India.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>heated debate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on this article took place on <\/span><b>November 23, 1948<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, reflecting the differing views of the framers on its implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ambedkar and Munshi on UCC:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> PM Modi cited <\/span><b>Dr. B.R. Ambedkar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>K.M. Munshi\u2019s statements<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> made in the <\/span><b>Constituent Assembly<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to justify the current push for a <\/span><b>secular civil code<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These quotes shed light on their support for the UCC as a means to foster <\/span><b>national unity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>progress<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>UCC and Religious Freedoms Debate<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mohamad Ismail Sahib\u2019s Proposal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: He moved an amendment to <\/span><b>Article 35<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure that no group would be forced to abandon its personal laws, highlighting that the right to follow personal law is part of <\/span><b>fundamental rights<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. He warned that a UCC could cause <\/span><b>disharmony<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> rather than unity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Support for Personal Laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: B. Pocker and Mahboob Ali Baig supported Sahib\u2019s stance, calling the imposition of a UCC \u201ctyrannous\u201d and arguing it would infringe on the <\/span><b>right to religious freedom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> guaranteed by <\/span><b>Article 19<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (now Article 25).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Krishnaswami Bharathi\u2019s View<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Bharathi suggested that changes to personal laws should require <\/span><b>community consent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Naziruddin Ahmad\u2019s Position<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: While supporting the UCC in principle, Ahmad emphasized a <\/span><b>gradual<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> approach with the <\/span><b>consent of the communities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, arguing for <\/span><b>careful, statesmanlike<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> implementation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>K.M. Munshi&#8217;s Defense of UCC: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He defended the <\/span><b>UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, asserting that it wouldn&#8217;t infringe upon <\/span><b>freedom of religion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and was necessary for <\/span><b>social reform<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially in matters of <\/span><b>gender equality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He also emphasized the inconsistencies within <\/span><b>Hindu personal laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across India and cited examples from <\/span><b>Turkey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Egypt<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to argue that a <\/span><b>civil code<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was not a threat to minority communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ambedkar&#8217;s Argument for UCC <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambedkar opposed the amendments, stating that India already had a <\/span><b>unified criminal law<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>civil laws<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, except for <\/span><b>marriage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>succession<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognizing concerns, Ambedkar assured that the <\/span><b>UCC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would not be <\/span><b>forced<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> upon citizens but could initially be <\/span><b>voluntary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allowing those who agreed to follow it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the contentious debates, the Constituent Assembly adopte<\/span><b>d Article 35, which later became Article 44 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in the Indian Constitution. It emphasized the state&#8217;s aim to implement a uniform civil code without <\/span><b>infringing on religious freedoms, leaving room for gradual implementation.<\/b><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.7409%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Mains Practice Question:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/dr-b-r-ambedkar-supported-the-idea-of-a-uniform-civil-code\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar supported the idea of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) but emphasized a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gradual and voluntary approach to its adoption. Examine how this viewpoint remains relevant <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in addressing the contemporary challenges of implementing UCC in India&#8217;s diverse and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pluralistic society. (15 Marks, 250 Words)<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b><i>Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation?<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>Join PW&#8217;s UPSC online courses<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> today!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-previous-year-papers?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Previous+Year+Papers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Test Series<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Uttarakhand government on Monday became the second state in the country, and the first to do so in independent India, to implement a Uniform Civil Code<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":153258,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2084],"subject":[2124],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/153294"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/editorial-analysis"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153294"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/153294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153298,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial-analysis\/153294\/revisions\/153298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153294"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=153294"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=153294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}