Article 44
Uniform Civil Code as a Directive Principle
Article 44 of the Constitution of India is a Directive Principle of State Policy (Part IV) that directs the state to "endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India." Directive Principles are not enforceable by courts (Article 37) but are fundamental in governance. Article 44 has been the most debated and politically contested of all Directive Principles since the Constituent Assembly debates of 1948–49.
- Part IV of the Constitution (Articles 36–51): Directive Principles of State Policy — non-justiciable
- Article 37: DPSPs are "not enforceable by any court, but the principles therein laid down are nevertheless fundamental in the governance of the country"
- Constituent Assembly debate (November 1948): B.R. Ambedkar supported UCC as a future aspiration but acknowledged it could not be imposed immediately; several Muslim members opposed making it obligatory
- Supreme Court has repeatedly invoked Article 44 in judgments to urge Parliament/state legislatures to enact UCC — most notably in Shah Bano (1985), Sarla Mudgal (1995), and John Vallamattom (2003)
- B.N. Rau Committee (1944): All-India Women's Conference report that recommended a UCC — informed Constituent Assembly discussions
● Tracked since March 15, 2026 · last seen August 13, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
09 Jul '26
Maharashtra sets up seven-member panel to prepare Uniform Civil Code draft
Polity & Governance
27 May '26
Assam assembly passes UCC Bill with ban on polygamy, live-in registration rules
Polity & Governance
16 Apr '26
SC: UCC not linked to religion, its enactment constitutional ambition
Polity & Governance
10 Apr '26
'BJP to bring UCC in 6 months': Amit Shah pitches common civil law in Bengal
Polity & Governance
24 Mar '26
Gujarat CM invokes Sanatan values, Rigveda as UCC Bill tabled in Assembly
Polity & Governance
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