The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Forcing any law on any community not possible'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

`Forcing any law on any community not possible'

Staff Reporter

Imposing a uniform civil code a complicated issue: Law Minister

NEW DELHI: Stating that imposing a uniform civil code in the country was complicated and it was not possible to force reform on another community unless it was ready for change, the Union Minister for Law and Justice, H.R. Bharadwaj, said on Tuesday that it was important to preserve the diversity of India.

Speaking after releasing "Education: A Mission in Jeopardy" -- a book by Supreme Court advocate M.P. Raju here in the Capital -- Mr. Bharadwaj said there were different communities in India and it was not possible to force any law on another community. "However, where there are problems we should have legislation, which has begun in right earnest. We are working to remove discrimination against women from laws. We recently had an amendment to the Hindu Succession Act as it discriminated against women," he added.

Talking about the question of reservation in private schools and colleges, Mr. Bharadwaj said: "We should avoid controversy wherever it is possible. Education is the basic norms and it is what makes a man a human being after training the mind. I think dharma is to teach righteousness. The norms of education should be such that even a poor man gets it."

The book which is a critique on the recent Supreme Court judgements on admission and fees in private unaided educational institution also looks at the reservation-quota debate.

It deals with the concerns of the management of private schools, colleges and other educational institutes and also discusses whether the difference between minority and non-minority institutions have blurred into non-existence.

The book has been published by Media House, Delhi. The function was followed by a panel discussion on "Quota in Private Professional College".

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