Supreme Court rejects PIL against Uniform Civil Code panels in Gujarat, Uttarakhand

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging Gujarat and Uttarakhand’s decision to constitute committees to consider introducing and implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said that the plea is without merit as they noted the constitution of the committee alone cannot be challenged.

Rejecting the plea filed by one Anoop Baranwal, the apex court said that the states have the power to do so.

The plea has challenged the constitution of committees set up by Gujarat and Uttarakhand to frame the UCC. But the court noted that the executive power of states extends to what legislature permits it to. The court, hence, remarked that there was nothing wrong in forming committees by the state governments as the Constitution empowers them to do so.

The court further remarked that they have only constituted a committee under their executive powers.

Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi in October 2022, announced forming a committee for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting.

Earlier to this in May 2022, the Uttarakhand government formed a committee to examine its implementation in the state.

The Uniform Civil Code is a proposal in India to formulate and implement personal laws of citizens which apply to all citizens equally regardless of their religion, gender and sexual orientation. DeshGujarat