India Supreme Court on Uniform Civil Code

The India — Supreme Court of India has observed that the time has come for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) while hearing a petition challenging discriminatory provisions of the 1937 Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act. The case focuses on inheritance rights for Muslim women, which are currently unequal compared to men. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi acknowledged the importance of fairness but cautioned against striking down the Shariat Act without a clear replacement, emphasizing that reforming personal laws is ultimately a task for the legislature. Advocate Prashant Bose, representing the petitioners, argued for equal inheritance rights for Muslim women, suggesting the Indian Succession Act could apply if the Shariat provisions are removed. The India — Supreme Court of India has repeatedly urged legislative action on a UCC in prior judgments, and this case highlights India's ongoing struggle to balance religious practices with constitutional guarantees of equality.