The Constitutions of The World

In Constitutional Identity, G. J. Jacobsohn classifies the constitutions of the world into two categories.The firstly off loving class is of translateative constitutions and the second category is of preservative constitutions. While a transformative or militant constitution seeks to change the plethoric social structure, a preservative or acquiescent constitution seeks to maintain the attitude quo. Using Jacobsohns classification, the Constitution of India would clearly be set(p) under the transformative category.This is referable to the fact that the intention of the Parliament fleck drafting the Constitution was to work out about social revolution in the unsophisticated. This claim is further substantiated by the pass on omission of any allusion to the integrity on family. It was intended that matters related to family would be the domain of state to facilitate reform in the law.Thus, most changes in laws governing family, flow from the state in the form of amendment s and statutes, which be enacted to transform the order of magnitude into whizz with more progressive values. An eminent example is the Hindi brotherhood Act, 1955, which re natural Hindi Marriage from sacrament to a contract. Nonetheless, reform needfully to form place with regard to the prevailing values in society and make allowance for the demands of several cultures in a diverse country like India.In pursuance of the same, Article 44 which was the demand to break a undifferentiated Civil rule, to govern the in the flesh(predicate) laws of every religion, was placed in the Constitution as a Directive Principle of distinguish Policy. These Directive Principles are goals that the government should keep in mind while it formulates policy. Article 44 reads The state shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a reproducible civil code throughout the territory of IndiaHowever, greets too comport vie an important role in governing society through family.aside from up pass watering the law, they excite in like manner tackled grey areas, resolved conflicting situations through atonement of different statues on the same subject and filled the lacunae. Illegalization of unlimited polygamy for Hindus, frankincense was, an important example of the positive influence of courts.This was taken further when metempsychosis for the purpose of committing bigamy was in any case illegalized in Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India (hereinafter, Sarla Mudgal) and later upheld in Lily doubting Thomas v. Union of India (hereinafter, Lily Thomas).The Sarla Mudgal CaseThe petitioner in this sideslip was married for some grade with three children from the wedding when she found out that her husband had contracted a second wedding with another woman, after converting to Islam.Her husband converted for the resole purpose of contracting a second marriage and ensuring that the provisions of portion 494 of the Indian penal Code were not attracted. He argued, however, that Islam allowed for limited polygamy four wives thus, he could marry a second term even though his first married woman remained a Hindu.The court held that marriage under the personal laws of one religion (here Hinduism) could not be taken to court for prodigality under the law of another different religion (here Islam) even if one of the parties embraced another different religion.This is because such a rule would violate the amends of the first spouse. However, the second marriage would be void because this very reason that the first marriage subsisted, even after conversion of the spouse.Facts of the Lily Thomas CaseThe Writ quest was filed by Smt. Sushmita Ghosh who had married Shri G. C. Ghosh in 1984 in accordance with Hindu rites. G. C. Ghosh had converted to Islam in 1992 and informed his wife of the change in religion.He tell that he wanted to marry Miss Vanita Gupta and so she should agree to a divorce by mutual consent. Change in religion is an authentic gro und for divorce under portion 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Smt. Sushmita Ghosh did not want a divorce and got in touch with her auntie and her father to intervene on her behalf.She, her father and her relative tried to curve her husband to not go for a divorce. However, his decision remained unchanged. He state that his wife could either divorce by mutual consent, or she would have to put up with his second wife, Ms. Vanita Gupta. Smt. Sushmita Ghosh was thus left with no alternating(a) tho to approach the courts.PETITIONERS ARGUMENTSConversion Not Due To FaithThe first point raised by the petitioner, Smt. Sushmita Ghosh is that her husband, Shri G. C. Ghosh, had not converted to Islam a matter of faith, but had through with(p) so solely for the purpose of taking in a second wife. While unlimited polygamy was allowed for Hindus, prior to the enactment of the Hindu Marriage Act, it was abolished channel 1955.However, limited polygamy is still allowed for the male foll owers of Islam in India and they can have up to four wives. Thus, it had become parklandplace for many male members of the Hindu faith to convert to Islam for the purpose of marrying a second woman, divorcing their first wife and then re-converting back to Hinduism.The re-conversion was to ensure that property interests were not harmed. The petitioner be this by referring to, firstly, a birth certificate of a son natural to G. C. Ghosh from his second wife, wherein, his name appears as G. C. Ghosh and his religion is stated to be Hindu. Moreover, the mothers (his second wife) name appears as Vanita Ghosh and she too is a Hindu, fit to the birth certificate.Secondly, the electoral roll of the constituency indicates the same, as does the respondents visa to Bangladesh. In fact, he signed the marriage certificate issued by Mufti Mohd. Tayyeb Qasmi, is signed by him as G. C. Ghosh.Removal of Burden of ProofThe second contention raised was that since the judgment in Sarla Mudgal clea r their case, conviction should take place without any need for proof.However, it was held that the conviction could not be made certain based on only a statement of admission made outside the court. This was because the provisions of the Indian Penal Code demanded that proof of not only the first marriage, but also the second marriage. This is still a legal obligation and admission of the marriage by the person being accused of bigamy, is not enough to refer the requirement. The matrimonial ceremonies needed to be shown.RESPONDENTS ARGUMENTSDifference with regard to Sarla Mudgal Article 20(1)It was contended that the law propounded in Sarla Mudgal, would not be applicable to the present case as that case was not related to people whose marriages were solemnized before the judgment pronouncing them void was passed. nevertheless though these marriages would be violative of the law, there could be no ex post facto application.The court however, rejected this argument. It said that no new law had been introduced, but the old, existing provisions of the governing statute had been interpreted. It is a rule of law that the interpretation of a provision goes back to the date of that provision and is not, in its nature, prospective.Thus, the second marriage would be declared void and article 21 of the Constitution which states that no person shall be convicted of any offence leave out for violation of a law in wildness at the time of the commission of the Act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a punishment greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence, would not be affected. infraction of Article 21 and 25The other contention raised by the focussing was that the Sarla Mudgal assessment would be violative of Articles 21 and 25 of the Indian Constitution. In the case of Article 21 which states that no person allow for be deprived of life or liberty except according to the mapping e stablished by law, the court said that this contention was misconceived.Thus, it would be premature to say that the judgement will result in passing of the life or liberty of either of the parties because the Sarla Mudgal judgement neither peed a new law, nor changed the procedure for the prosecution.Another contention raised by the respondent was that the judgement would violate Article 25 of the Constitution, which guaranteed the right to freedom of conscience and the right to profess and propagate a religion.However, such an argument does not hold when the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, explicitly abolished polygamy in the Hindu religion and further, sectionalization 17 of the Act made void any marriages if any society had a living spouse, even after the marriage had been solemnised. Freedom guaranteed by the Constitution was to be exercised by individuals, until they encroached upon anothers freedom.Moreover, if the act fitted under section 17 of the Hindu Marriage Act, its penal ty was prescribed in section 494 and section 495 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The court commented on the contention raised in Sarla Mudgal that making a Hindu Convert liable for prosecution would be against Islam. The court found this argument to be ignorant of the nature of the religion of Islam.COURTS DECISIONApplying rude(a) referee Further, the court posed that conversion for the purpose of bigamy could not be squared with the principles of natural justice and equity. Natural justice constitutes in procedures or principles that are thought to be wrong, inherently. Here, the court agreed with the view of Justice M. C. Chagla in Robasa Khanum v. Khodadad Irani.The judges were of the opinion that if a man converted to Islam, to take in a second wife, during the subsistence of his first marriage, the effect on twain wives would be undesirable. Since the law does not recognize the second marriage as valid, the status of the second wife would be that of a concubine and children born out of that marriage would be considered illegitimate.Though the first marriage will still persist legally, there would be practical problems with it. Necessity of the unvaried Civil Code The need for a Uniform Civil Code was not the primary question addressed by the judges in Lily Thomas, but it was referenced by both the judges in their break down judgments. Various cases discussing the notion of a uniform personal law were also mentioned. After a perusal of some judgments, it was commented by Justice Sahai in a separate judgment, that the Uniform Civil Code was highly desirable.However, the social climate of the society needed to be taken into account. Thus, a comprehensive Uniform Civil Code that takes into account all stakeholders and caters to everyones interests could only be brought into human race if leaders took the responsibility of bringing about reform by changing the minds of people in their communities.Thus, the matter was assigned to the 18th Law burster wh ich would examine the feasibility of the Uniform Civil Code, in consonance with the Minorities Commission. The court clarified its stance on Article 44 of the Constitution, affirming that the courts had no jurisdiction whatsoever in giving direction for the implementation of a common Civil Code for personal laws.The Directive Principles of State Policy are not to be enforced by the courts because they do not create rights in favour of any person or persons. They are only guidelines by the Constitution to the State, which is why they were included in the non-justifiable section by the Sapru Report of 1945. Arguments of the person