New Delhi, The Supreme Court observed that the time has come for a Uniform Civil Code, terming a plea seeking striking down of provisions of the Shariat law of 1937 as a 'very good case'.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and R Mahadevan said striking down the Shariat inheritance law would create a legal vacuum, as there is no statutory law governing Muslim inheritance.
CJI Kant expressed concern that striking down the law could deprive Muslim women of their current rights, saying 'we may end up depriving them, and they might end up getting less than what they are already getting.'
Justice Bagchi suggested that the court defer the issue to the legislative wisdom, citing the Directive Principles of State Policy that mandate a Uniform Civil Code.
The court has previously recommended enacting a Uniform Civil Code, and Justice Bagchi noted that the rule of 'one wife for one man' is not uniformly applied to all communities.
