The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is seen as the sign of a progressive nation; it

shows that the nation has moved beyond the traditional demarcations based on
religion, sex, caste and place of birth. It is seen as a beacon to facilitate much
needed social growth in India along with economic growth.However, there are
many who advocate that with the implementation of UCC the secular fabric of
our country would be threatened, and it would be a potential threat to the
religious freedom, especially for minorities.

Why UCC Doesnt Limit Religious Freedom?

UCC does not limit the freedom of people to follow their religion; it means every
person should be treated equally. Most of the personal laws have an inherent
bias against the rights of women such as Unilateral Oral Talaq in Muslim Law,
limited property rights of women in Christian Law or restitution of conjugal
rights issue under Hindu Personal Law. This bias does not operate only against
women, but also men.

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, is the only personal law that provides for
alimony from the wife to the husband, even the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969, or
The Special Marriage Act, 1954, which are supposed to be gender neutral have
no provision under which the husband can demand alimony from his wife.
Similarly, personal laws do not provide for inter-religious marriages[1] thus
prove to be divisive in society. Some benefits may also be considered
unconstitutional for example, the Hindu Undivided Family gets tax exemptions,
and Muslims must not register gift deeds; such benefits are based on religion
and thus unconstitutional.

Further, an extra burden is added on the judiciary when different communities

are governed by different laws. Bringing in a Uniform Civil Code would help
reduce it and also help simplify a lot of technicalities and inherent confusions
that are attached to present personal laws. Thus, addressing loopholes present
in pre-existing personal laws.

Another important advantage of implementing the Uniform Civil Code is that it

will bring an end to dirty vote bank politics which is relied upon by a majority of
the political class to meet their ends. This is because if all of the India has the
same set of laws governing it, then the politicians will have nothing to offer to
the community on religious grounds in exchange for votes. The Supreme Court
of India also has time and again reiterated the importance of enacting a Uniform
Civil Code. During the Constituent Assembly Debates, B.R. Ambedkar had also
demonstrated his will to reform Indian society by recommending the adoption of
a Civil Code of western inspiration and he went on to add;

I do not understand why religion should be given this vast, expansive

jurisdiction, so as to cover the whole of life and to prevent the legislature from
encroaching upon that field.[2]

Every modern nation which has truly embraced Secularism has a Uniform Civil
Code.