The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL challenging the decisions of the Uttarakhand and Gujarat Governments to constitute committees for implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Pointing out that the Constitution empowers the States to set up such panels, the court said the constitution of such committees by the States cannot be challenged for being ultra vires the Constitution.
“There was nothing wrong for the States to constitute committees under Article 162 of the Constitution, which gives the power to the Executive to do so,” said the Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha.
Both Uttarakhand and Gujarat Government have constituted committees to look into the issue of implementation of UCC, which will govern matters of divorce, adoption, inheritance, guardianship, succession of all citizens equally regardless of their religion, gender and sexual orientation.
“The Governor has given his permission to establish an expert committee to check all the relevant laws which control personal matters for people living in Uttarakhand, and to prepare a report on amendments in the present laws,” according to a State Government communication.
Several other petitions are pending before the court seeking UCC and procedures.