Hindu Code Bill
Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
The Hindu Code Bill was a plan to write Hindu personal law into clear legal codes and to reform it. Personal law is the set of rules on marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption. Law Minister B.R. Ambedkar steered it. It aimed especially to give women more rights. It used the space the Constitution left for social reform inside religious communities. Indian secularism keeps a "judicious distance" from religion, not a total separation.
Example
Conservative members strongly opposed the bill, and it was held up. Ambedkar resigned from Nehru's cabinet in 1951, partly in protest. Its ideas were later passed as four separate laws in 1955-56: the Hindu Marriage Act, the Hindu Succession Act, the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, and the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.
Don't confuse with
- Uniform Civil Code: one common personal law for all citizens. The Hindu Code Bill reformed the law for Hindus only.
Related concepts
- Universal adult franchise
- Indian secularism
- Right to freedom of religion
- Cultural and educational rights
- Right to equality
- Constituent Assembly Debates
- Constitution of India
- Adoption of the Constitution 1949
- Calligraphed Constitution
- National anthem and national song adoption