All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the apex body of Muslims in the country, is planning to submit a detailed response to the Law Commission of India to explain its opposition to the Uniform Civil Code by underlining the inherent diversity in state statutes in India’s federal polity with a note of caution that UCC may impact not just Muslims but other communities as well.
Questioning the raison d’etre behind the law panel’s recent decision to revisit the issue, the 60-page AIMPLB submission will be appended with 40 pages of reference material
The thrust of the board’s submission would be backed by specific examples of personal laws protecting customs and practices followed by tribal communities and diversity in state-specific laws on issues like reservations and cow slaughter.
The board held an emergency meeting late on Tuesday night to deliberate on the draft of its response to the UCC, just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for a uniform civil code while addressing BJP booth workers in Bhopal.
Some board members wanted to submit their views in writing, and after incorporating fresh submissions, AIMPLB will send its representation to the Law panel early next month.
“Uniformity of personal law is a myth which is being propounded by some sections”; board spokesperson SQR Ilyas who was present in the board meeting told DH.
The meeting, which was held virtually, was also attended by Board general secretary Maulana Mohammed Fazal-ur-Rahim, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali, and other senior members.
Board chairman Maulana Saifullah Rehmani, who presided over the meeting, said that the debate on the UCC was intended to influence the forthcoming assembly elections in some states.
The recent debate on the UCC has been triggered by the Law Commission’s decision to seek a fresh response on the subject from all stakeholders almost four years after a commission consultative paper had called UCC “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage”.