"The debate surrounding UCC (Uniform Civil Code), however dates back to our colonial era, but it has come up for discussion from time to time,” stated the DNA daily of October 12, 2016. The paper notes that "the Law Commission of India on October 7, 2016 issued a questionnaire asking people to send in their suggestions.”
While many of the questions in the form are innocuous in so far as the Parsi community is concerned, the second item in the form is bound to raise hackles. "The various religious denominations are governed by personal laws and customary practices in India on matters of family law, should the UCC include all or some of these subjects? Marriage, divorce, adoption, guardianship and child custody, successions and inheritance.”
The issue of adoption had arisen when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government had considered introducing an adoption bill. This was strongly opposed by the Muslims as well as the Parsis. Many Parsis felt that adoption would grant the adopted non-Parsi child the same rights as a Parsi child. At present a Parsi is defined as one who is born of a Parsi father.
The penultimate question is "Would a uniform civil code infringe on an individual’s right to freedom of religion?”
Replies have to be sent within 45 days to the Law Commission of India, 14th floor, HT House, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 or by email Lci-dla@nic.in.