UCC: Debates and proposals in the Constituent Assembly...
During the debate in the Constituent assembly, Constituent assembly member Mohammad Ismail Sahib introduced an amendment to Article 35, which added that 'no community shall be compelled to give up its personal laws.' He argued that following personal laws and practising religion is a part of the judicial fundamental rights. Sahib said that a uniform civil code can create discord rather than harmony in the society.
Supporting the same proposal, B. Poker had termed it as a 'provision of dictatorship'. However, Mehboob ali Beg and Naziruddin ahmed also supported the same idea. Whereas, Krishnaswamy Bharati had suggested that changes in their personal laws should be made only with the consent of the communities.
Pandit Nehru's view
Nehru made it clear in the Constituent assembly that his aim was to establish unity and equality in the Indian society. He had said, "If we want to become a secular nation, then we have to ensure equality in civil rights." He believed that a Uniform Civil Code would promote the principles of secularism in indian society. While considering personal laws, Nehru also said that it is not necessary to have a separate law for every community, but it should be a uniform law for the civil society.
But he also admitted that, 'This is a long and sensitive issue, and it will not be easy to implement it all at once.' He believed that UCC should be done gradually and in a phased manner, so that different sections of the society can be explained about it and they can accept it easily.
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