Uniform Civil Code and Gender Justice

Abstract

The contradictory claims that arise in multicultural nations between the goal of gender equality and the safeguarding of the rights of minorities have often raised pertinent questions. India has also had a long constitutional history of conflicts between the issues of gender equality and religious claims of minorities. A secular country like India which is guided by the rule of law and the ideal of equality for all citizens needs a Uniform Civil Code.A fair, just, and equitable democratic model of multiculturalism recognizes the possibility of reconciling both the pursuit of gender equality and the existence of cultural pluralism. Law has to be universal and homogenous and it cannot be discriminatory in application. Uniformity in diversity should be the main objective of the Code. Goa has taken a positive initiative in this direction and the rest of the country needs to follow the example. Once UCC is adopted, it will impart credibility to Indian democracy. It would be a great leap forward to move India away from conservatism and religious nationalism to an era of modern civic nationalism.