Uttarakhand Mahila Manch Calls UCC Anti-People, Unconstitutional, and an Invasion of Privacy
New Delhi –: The BJP-led Uttarakhand government’s recent decision to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has sparked widespread opposition. While Muslim organizations have strongly criticized the move as an infringement on religious freedom, civil society groups are also voicing their concerns.
Following the petition by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a fresh legal challenge has been filed in the Uttarakhand High Court by Dr. Uma Bhatt and members of the Uttarakhand Mahila Manch. The petition questions the constitutional validity of the UCC Act, with prominent Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover set to argue the case.
The petitioners argue that the UCC is anti-people, unconstitutional, and an infringement on personal privacy. They contend that the law will lead to increased discrimination against women, exacerbate social inequality, and fuel violence. According to the petition, the UCC contravenes Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. Furthermore, it is claimed that the Act restricts individuals’ fundamental right to choose their life partners, potentially resulting in heightened harassment of interfaith and inter-caste couples.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the broad investigative powers granted to the police and registrars under the law, which, the petitioners warn, could be misused for public harassment. The petition highlights that the UCC mandates registration for marriages, divorces, live-in relationships, and wills, requiring individuals to submit their mobile numbers—an alleged violation of privacy rights as established in the Supreme Court’s landmark Puttaswamy judgment.
Additionally, the petition challenges a clause stating that individuals not registered under the UCC may be denied access to public welfare schemes. The petitioners argue that such a provision contradicts constitutional guarantees and fundamental rights.
This legal challenge adds to the growing opposition against the UCC, raising serious concerns about its implications for personal freedoms, privacy, and constitutional principles.
