Different personal laws affront to nation's unity: Centre to Delhi High Court
New Delhi(PTI): The central government has told the Delhi High Court that citizens from different religions and denominations following different property and matrimonial laws is an affront to the nation's unity and the Uniform Civil Code will result in the integration of India.
The Centre, in an affidavit filed in response to a plea seeking the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), said it would examine in consultation with stakeholders the issue of formulating the Code after it receives the report of the Law Commission.
The government added that the issue is important and involved sensitivity which required an in-depth study of various personal laws governing different communities of the country.
"Article 44 (of the Constitution on UCC for citizens) divests religion from social relations and personal law. Citizens belonging to different religious and denominations follow different property and matrimonial laws which is an affront to the nation's unity," the Centre stated in the affidavit filed through its lawyer Ajay Digpaul.
It informed that pursuant to its request to undertake an examination of various issues relating to the UCC and then make recommendations, the 21st Law Commission uploaded a consultation paper on 'Reform of Family Law' on its website in 2018 for wider discussion.
"As and when the report of the Law Commission in the matter is received, the government would examine the same in consultation with the various stakeholders involved in the matter," the affidavit stated.
"In view of the importance of the subject matter and sensitivity involved which requires in-depth study of the provisions of various personal laws governing different communities, the central government requested the Law Commission of India to undertake examination of various issues relating to Uniform Civil Code and to make recommendation thereof," it added.
In the affidavit, the Centre also said the petition is not maintainable as formulation of the UCC is a "matter of policy", which has to be decided by the "elected representatives of the people" and "no direction can be issued on with regard".
In May 2019, the court had sought the Centre's response on BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay's petition seeking constitution of a judicial commission to draft the UCC in order to promote national integration, gender justice and equality, and dignity of women.
Four other petitions have also contended that India "urgently needs a Uniform Civil Code".
The petitioners have contended that gender justice and gender equality guaranteed under Articles 14-15 of the Constitution and dignity of women guaranteed under Article 21 cannot be secured without implementing Article 44 (the State shall endeavour to secure for citizens a UCC throughout the territory of India).
The petitions have claimed that the UCC, with a common set of rules governing every citizen of the country, will replace the personal laws which are based on the scriptures and customs of various religious communities.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
