New Delhi: No decision has been taken “as of now” on the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code in the country, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply that the government had requested the 21st Law Commission to examine various issues related to the Uniform Civil Code and make recommendations.
He said, “The term of the 21st Law Commission ended on August 31, 2018. As per information received from the Law Commission, the matter related to Uniform Civil Code may be taken up for consideration by the 22nd Law Commission.”
“Therefore, no decision has been taken at present on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code,” he said.
The term of the current law panel ends at the end of this month. Government sources have indicated that the three-year tenure of the panel may be extended. The current law panel was constituted on February 21, 2020, but its chairman and members were appointed in November last year, months before the panel’s tenure expired.
The 21st Law Commission examined various issues related to the Uniform Civil Code and uploaded a consultation paper titled “Reforms in Family Law” on its website for wider discussion.
Implementing a Uniform Civil Code was a poll promise made by the ruling BJP in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.