The Supreme Court of India in the Pavini Shukla vs Union of India (UoI) case suggested implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to address gender bias in personal laws.
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aims to replace religion-based personal laws with a common law for all citizens, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or gender.
Article 44 of the Constitution of India directs the State to secure a UCC for citizens across India.
Matters such as marriage, divorce, adoption and succession fall under the Concurrent List (Seventh Schedule) allowing both Centre and States to make the laws.
UCC aims to ensure gender justice, secularism, simplified legal procedures and national unity.
Uttarakhand is the first State in independent India to implement UCC, while Goa follows the Portuguese Civil Code (1867) as a common civil law.
The 21st Law Commission of India (2018) said a nationwide UCC is not necessary at present, suggesting reforms in existing family laws instead.