Assam's UCC Law Faces Scrutiny Over Its Uniformity and Potential Discrimination

Hyderabad, India: AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has criticized Assam's proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) 2026 as a 'backdoor' imposition of Hindu law on Muslims. According to Owaisi, the legislation aims not only to protect Hindu culture but also to force compliance with the supposedly uniform rules that can disadvantage certain communities.

Owaisi pointed out several concerns arising from the bill. First and foremost, he argued that in Islam, inheritance cannot be arbitrarily excluded or divided. Any form of will writing must ensure equitable treatment for all family members. However, the UCC Bill 2026 allows individuals to draft wills that might disinherit daughters or distribute property unevenly among heirs, which Owaisi sees as a violation of Islamic principles and human rights.

Article 29 and Tribal Autonomy

Owias noted that the bill's exemption from coverage for tribal communities is another point of contention. He emphasized that every community has the right to protect its own culture under Article 29, but the current UCC Bill fails to provide uniformity across all communities. This, according to Owaisi, amounts to a law being imposed on people without their consent.

Moreover, Owias contended that the Constituent Assembly did not envision a mandatory UCC. The inclusion of such legislation in the Assam bill, he argued, represents an imposition of rules unanticipated by the founding fathers.

Main Points

• The UCC 2026 is described as a 'backdoor' attempt to impose Hindu law on Muslims.
• Key concerns include arbitrary inheritance practices and violation of Islamic tenets.
• Tribal communities are exempt, raising questions about uniformity and autonomy.
• The Constituent Assembly had no vision for mandatory UCC in the Assam bill.