Law Commission rejects proposal for uniform civil code, says not necessary at this stage

Rejecting a proposal that suggested a uniform civil code in the country, the law commission said that there is no need for a uniform civil code and that is not necessary at this stage. Meanwhile, the commission has suggested certain changes in marriage and divorce laws that should be uniformly accepted in the personal laws of all religions.

In its 185-page report, the commission that is headed by former supreme court judge justice B.S Chauhan whose tenure ended on Friday said that a unified nation does not necessarily need to have uniformity.

The commission also made it clear that the best way forward is to safeguard diversity of personal laws even while ensuring they did not contradict fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.

"Cultural diversity cannot be compromised to the extent that our urge for uniformity itself becomes a reason for threat to the territorial integrity of the nation,"the commission said in its report saying secularism cannot contradict the plurality prevalent in the country.