fontsize fontweight bold react the story so far does india really need a uniform civil code personal laws skewed against women code of honour common code need of the hour bjp up oppn leader opposes uniform civil code what lies beneath social commentators say the only real issue is needed to reform anglomohammedan law on marriage and divorce now in force which is oppressive to women and is contrary to islam others argue that the entire developed world has a uniform civil code the ucc will affect only personal laws based on religion those relating to marriage divorce adoption and inheritance criminal and civil laws are already common for all citizens the advocates of such a code cite article 44 of the constitution under directive principles of state policy which provides the state shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of indiathose against point out that the endeavour talks of an ideal situation but leaves the matter to the states discretion they have also taken umbrage at the supreme court observing on july 21 that parliament is yet to frame a uniform civil code the matter is far more political than legal everytime the issue has come up there have been angry words from both sides of the debate politically the bjp and some allied parties like the shiv sena and jayalalithas aiadmk on the other side parties like the congress and left front that depend a great deal on the minority vote are against it the real social opposition each time has come from the muslim community that sees any attempt to bring a ucc as an attack on its religious rights the tussle has its roots primarily in the shah bano case of the 1980s when an old muslim woman went to court against the way her husband had divorced herin 1978 65yearold shah bano demanded alimony from her husband who had abandoned her for another woman according to muslim law shah bano was entitled to three months maintenance after over 40 years of marriage years later the supreme court heard the matter and upheld her right to maintenance while doing so the court also referred to the need to enact a uniform civil code this sparked off a huge protest among muslim leaders who accused the judiciary of interfering in their personal laws in the