Diritto Pubblico Comparato ed Europeo

Sommario

1. Premessa. − 2. Il sistema delle leggi personali sulla famiglia in epoca coloniale: origini, rapporti tra shastra e consuetudini, riforme legislative selettive. − 3. Il periodo post-coloniale: le leggi personali sulla famiglia tra costruzione della nazione e libertà religiosa. − 3.1. Segue: La riforma del diritto di famiglia in- dù. − 3.2. Innovazioni e aspetti problematici della riforma: unificazione della nazione, eguaglianza di ge- nere ed effettività. − 3.3. Sindacabilità delle leggi personali. − 4. La famiglia nei diritti personali delle mi- noranze religiose: tra chiusure identitarie e codice civile uniforme.

Abstract

The most famous Shah Bano controversy and the following Latifi case are examined in or- der to understand the conflict between the protection of religious minorities and women rights. In the light of the “discourse ethic” approach, it is argued that an optional civil code regulating family relationships should be adopted. The constitutional provision for the adoption of such a code (art. 44 Cost.) furthers the realization of the equality principle; however, it needs to be balanced by the liberty of conscience of the women concerned, who still may desire to be go- verned by their respective religious personal laws. A glance is cast on the Indian political party system, which also supports the optional solution. Indeed, the “new” secularism promoted by the Hindu-right BJP party suggests that a compulsory code passed by a BJP majority will entail provisions mainly consistent with hindutva and communalist ideology, thereby removing any accommodation for religious minorities.