67 % Of Muslim Women Support Uniform Civil Laws, More Support Among Educated Women: Survey
A recent survey conducted among Muslim women showed that at least 67.2% of Muslim women support uniform laws for marriage, divorce, adoption and inheritance. The survey took the opinion of over 8000 Muslim women from different parts of the country of varying ages from 18 to 65. The surveyed women were further divided based on their level of education, ranging from illiterate to postgraduate.
As per the survey, 76.5% of Muslim women were against polygamy and do not want Muslim men to have the right to have four wives.
68% of graduate Muslim women supported the idea of a uniform law over personal law. In the age group of 45 and above, 59% of women were in favour of a uniform law while 69% were in favour, in the age group of 18-44, as per the survey conducted by News18.
Interestingly, the survey was done without expressly mentioning the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). As per the survey, 73.7% of Muslim women want divorced couples to be allowed to remarry without any restriction. As per Islamic law, 'nikah halala' requires a Muslim woman who wants to re-marry her husband after divorce to first marry another person and get a divorce from him after consummation. The practice of 'halala' is under challenge before the Supreme Court.
As per the survey, 69.3% of Muslim women want all adults to be free to will away their property as they please. Among those who have completed graduation, the number was as high as 73.1%. Muslim women are at a disadvantage as per the Muslim personal law of inheritance. 64.9% of the surveyed Muslim women said that adoption should be allowed regardless of religion.
This support for a common law comes at a time when minority religious groups and leaders are calling for demonstrations against the UCC stating that the State should not interfere in religious matters and that the majority should not impose its opinions on the minority.
The 22nd Law Commission on June 14, 2023, invited responses from public regarding their views on UCC. The Law Commission received a substantial number of responses as the deadline for sharing views ends on July 14, 2023.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea seeking UCC on the ground that it is a matter of legislative policy. Interestingly, the Centre had filed an affidavit and opposed the petitions on the ground that they are not maintainable.