The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Tuesday conveyed to the Law Commission, which is preparing a report on the feasibility of the Uniform Civil Code, that it is completely opposed to any changes in the Muslim personal law.
AIMPLB members, who met Law Commission Chairman Justice B.S. Chauhan, also claimed that Chauhan told them that a common civil code is not possible in India at least for the next ten years.
“We have made it clear to the Law Commission that Muslim personal law is divine and flows from the Quran. Hence there is no scope of any change in it, and we cannot accept any change,” said S.Q.R. Ilyas, member, working committee of the personal law board.
The AIMPLB submitted to the commission written responses on various aspects of Muslim personal law, including custody of children following divorce, Islam not admitting the concept of adoption, property rights enjoyed by women as also the issue of maintenance and property rights if a son dies during his father's lifetime.
“On one hand, it is said that the Constitution gives us the right to practise our personal law. And on the other hand, there is an attack on our personal law. We told the commission that these laws are being followed by us for the last 1,500 years, and the solutions to the problems that are being talked about are already there in the Quran,” said Maulana Syed Jaluddin Umri, vice president, AIMPLB.
“Justice Chauhan said that the government should not deal with UCC for the next ten years at least... He said it is not possible in the present circumstances,” said Kamal Farooqui, member, working committee of the AIMPLB.
The board has also rejected the the commission's proposal to reform civil laws in the background of religious principles taken from different religions.
The commission had sought the board's views on different aspects of personal law, except for the issues that have been dealt with or are being heard by the court, such as triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy, as also the practice of Khatna or female circumcision.
It had also invited suggestions on the implementation of UCC. The commission is at an advanced stage of deliberations before it finalises its report on whether the common civil code can be implemented in the country.