'Uniform civil code is a must': Aryama Sundaram on common civil laws
In an interview on India First, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India Aryama Sundaram shared his constitutional perspective on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and secularism in India. Sundaram stated, "All of them should be uniform, and I'm a great believer that the uniform civil code is a must." He emphasized that civil matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance should be governed uniformly by the state, distinguishing civil codes from ecclesiastical practices. Discussing the role of the judiciary versus the legislature, Sundaram explained that lawmaking is the prerogative of Parliament and state assemblies, while the Supreme Court's mandate is to examine constitutional validity if a law is challenged. He addressed the federal rollout of civil laws, citing historical amendments to the Hindu Succession Act across states. He noted that directive principles guide national progress and that personal laws treating individuals unequally go against basic morality, public interest, and constitutional equality.
