DMK questions Law Commission over UCC, says it will undermine religious freedom

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin’s party has called out again the Centre’s move to implement Uniform Civil Code, saying that it will disrupt religious harmony.

The DMK in a detailed submission to the 22 nd Law Commission of India claimed that UCC will cause an ‘ unjustifiable encroachment’ upon Aricle 25 and 29 of the Constitution.

The regional party maintained that these two articles guarantee right to religious freedom and the protection of interests of minorities.

DMK general secretary Duraimurugan urged the Law Commission to be heedful of the 21 st Law Commission’s reservations about implementing the UCC expressed in a consultation paper in August 2018, according to The Indian Express.

Stressing on diversity, he said that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach will undermine religious freedom and threaten the peace and communal harmony.

‘Each religion has evolved its unique, distinct custom and tradition over centuries of practice, in keeping with their beliefs and religious texts. To upset them with brute force is nothing short of tyranny and oppression, and must not be committed by the State, which acts as parens patriae (parent to the nation),’ the DMK reportedly stated.

The DMK warned against UCC as likely to encroach upon legislative competence of states thus infringing on cooperative federalism.

The submission pointed that Scheduled Tribes have distinct customs citing the example diversity within Hinduism and thus they are excluded from the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

The party asked if the Centre will eradicate the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), which according to the party contributed ‘significantly to the tax revenue’ .

The submission reminded UCC cannot invalidate the special protections given to tribes in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram on marriage, divorce and social customs.