Progressive Piece Of Legislation; Build Consensus Before Implementation: Ex-CJI Gogoi On UCC (image:facebook.com/Ranjangogoiofficial)
Surat, Gujarat: Former chief justice of India and Rajya Sabha member Ranjan Gogoi on Sunday (January 20) said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a “progressive piece of legislation” and an “important step towards national integration”; however, a consensus should be built among people before implementing it.
While speaking during a discussion on “Challenges for the Judiciary” at the Surat Litfest 2025 the ex-CJI said, “The UCC is a progressive piece of legislation, which will replace diverse customary practices that have evolved in the law.”
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He said that UCC is a major step towards national integration and it does not come in conflict with Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution which deals with right to religion. The UCC will deal with adoption, marriage, divorce and inheritance, and it is working effectively in Goa, he added.
Continuing further, Gogoi said that what needs to be done is consensus building should be done and checks should be made for misinformation. According to him, UCC has nothing to do with religion. Citing examples of how the Supreme Court in five cases including Shah Bao, regarding the right of Muslim women to seek maintenance, has observed that the government must get it on board.
At the same time, Gogoi claimed that the government and parliamentarians should not rush into it.
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“But I would request the government and parliamentarians not rush into it, and build a consensus. Tell the people of the nation what the UCC is. People will understand; one section of people will never understand, they will pretend not to understand, forget that… But we have to look ahead,” Indian Express quotes, as he is saying.
The session was moderated by Prafulla Ketkar, the editor of RSS mouthpiece Organiser.
