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Uniform civil code: mixed reactions to SC suggestion

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE JULY 24 . The Supreme Court's suggestion that there should be a common civil code has evoked mixed reactions.

Though it has been welcomed by Nisa, a forum representing Muslim women, the body has made it clear that what it favours is not the `Hindu civil code' envisaged by the BJP.

The Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama, an organisation of Muslim religious scholars, however, said a uniform civil code militated against the spirit of the Constitution.

A statement from Nisa here today said the nearly six-crore Muslim women in the country, who were subjected to gross discrimination under the Muslim personal law, would be the principal beneficiaries of a common civil code, if it was truly secular in character. That would be especially true in the case of Muslim women who were financially weak.

They pointed out that the Muslim Personal Law Board, which is strongly in favour of the Muslim personal law though it was discriminatory towards women in matters related to divorce, marriage and inheritance, did not represent the entire Muslim population.

They appealed to secular organisations and other progressive movements to campaign for changing all laws that had become outdated in a civilised society.

The Nisa president, V.P. Suhra, also appealed to the Left parties and all progressive women's organisations to make clear their stand on the Supreme Court order. Nisa would organise a symposium next month on a uniform civil code. Shamsad Hussain, A. Ishabi and K. K. Naseema, all Nisa activists, are also signatories to the statement.

Expressing grave concern at the Supreme Court's suggestion, the Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama said that the introduction of a common civil code would amount to the denial of the constitutional right guaranteed under Article 25 to practice the religion of one's choice. Among those who spoke were Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musaliar, M.A. Abdul Khadir Musaliar, and K.P. Hamsa.

U. Kalanathan, national secretary of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Association, said it was a constitutional obligation of the authorities to implement the uniform civil code.

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