New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a lawsuit seeking a uniform civil code in the country.
“There is no power with us to give such a direction,” a bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam said.
The suit, filed by Delhi resident Satya Pal, sought an apex court direction to parliament to enact a law on a uniform civil code, saying there is was urgent need for this.
“This court has even earlier said that such a direction cannot be given to parliament,” the bench said, adding: “It is the prerogative of parliament to enact a legislation.”
Pal said he was moving the court as successive governments had ignored the Directive Principles enshrined in the constitution that obliged the government to strive for formulating a uniform civil code.
The bench, however, was not impressed by Pal’s argument and said it could not give any direction to parliament as it didn’t have the power to do so.
As the petitioner wanted the bench to ask the prime minister to take steps in the matter, the bench said that even this was not possible.
The petitioner eventually withdrew the petition as the court said it would dismiss it.