Law Commission receives massive response on UCC consultation

With the deadline for submitting views on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) just two days away, the Law Commission has reportedly received nearly 46 lakh responses so far, according to sources on Tuesday. In the next stage of deliberation, the Commission is expected to invite specific organisations and individuals for personal hearings. Some invitation letters have already been dispatched.
The consultation process for the UCC was reinitiated by the Law Commission on June 14, seeking perspectives from stakeholders, including the public and recognized religious organisations, on this politically charged issue. This move follows earlier examinations of the subject by the 21st Law Commission, which concluded its term in August 2018, and had twice sought stakeholder input. A consultation paper titled “Reforms of Family Law” was subsequently issued.
The 22nd Law Commission of India justified the fresh consultation, stating that over three years have passed since the previous paper was released.
Given the subject’s importance and its ongoing legal implications, the Commission considered it necessary to revisit the topic.
The panel, appearing before a parliamentary committee earlier this month, defended this fresh consultation, citing that the previous commission’s term had concluded, and that the new process is essentially “informational.”