Is a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) necessary for gender justice? Apparently not, was the answer from speakers at a meet on the same subject at Morello Hall, Holy Family Hospital, Bandra West on Wednesday, July 12 evening. The meeting was organised by the Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS) and Justice Coalition of Religious-West India.

A weapon

The first speaker Chayanika Shah, queer feminist researcher and activist, encapsulated the history of the UCC. Shah, in her criticism of the present government, stated that, “those that seek the imposition of UCC do not really believe in gender justice. They  want to use it as a weapon.” She added, “Minority community women have been asking for reforms for years within.” For Shah it was not, “the UCC that is all-important but recourse to justice. Nobody should feel excluded or find it difficult to access the justice system.”