Fact-checking claims on Muslim personal law, non-Muslim laws, and Article 44?

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The comparisons of personal laws governing polygamy, marriage age, and inheritance in India, alongside Article 44's Uniform Civil Code directive, are accurate. Under Indian statutes, monogamy and an 18-year marriage age apply to non-Muslims, while Muslim personal law allows polygamy and recognizes puberty for marriage, though recent High Court decisions hold that laws like the PCMA and POCSO override personal law. Under the 2005 Hindu Succession Act amendment, daughters inherit equal shares, whereas the Shariat Application Act generally allocates female heirs half the share of males. Article 44 directs the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens.

6 claims checked
8 sources
Checked 10 Nov 2026
Main source: Polygyny in India - Wikipedia

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The Reel we checked

@asal_sangathi

If the same criminal code applies to every citizen regardless of religion, why does a "secular" democracy still allow separate religion-based laws for marriage…

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What we checked

For Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, and Buddhists in India, polygamy is strictly illegal under the law.“polygamy became illegal in India in 1956, uniformly for all of its citizens except for Muslims”Polygyny in India - Wikipedia + 1 more

Muslim Personal Law in India permits a man to have up to 4 wives legally.“Under Muslim personal law”"Criminal To Love?" Top Court Asks, Junks Plea Over Muslim Girl's Marriage + 1 more

For non-Muslim communities in India, the strict minimum legal age of marriage for women is 18.“The age of marriage, in our considered opinion, for every citizen of the country, irrespective of religion, is that which is spelt out by the PCMA”Allahabad High Court upholds uniform legal marriage age, says Shariat cannot override PCMA - The Hindu + 1 more

Under Muslim Personal Law as upheld by high courts, marriage at 15 (or upon attaining puberty) is legal.“Under Muslim personal law”"Criminal To Love?" Top Court Asks, Junks Plea Over Muslim Girl's Marriage + 1 more

Under the Hindu Succession Act, daughters get an equal share in ancestral property.“Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act of 2005, which granted coparcenary rights to daughters”Gender Equality And Muslim Succession Law In India: A Critical Evaluation Of Daughters' Inheritance Rights

Under the Shariat Application Act (1937), daughters receive half the share of ancestral property compared to a son.“allocating female heirs half the inheritance share of their male counterparts”SC seeks Centre's response to PIL challenging unequal inheritance rights for Muslim women + 1 more

What the Reel doesn't tell you

Article 44 of the Indian Constitution, listed under Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV), directs the State to endeavour to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens, though Directive Principles are non-enforceable in court (Constitution of India).
High Courts in India have expressed divergent views on minor marriages under personal law, with recent rulings from the Allahabad High Court and Delhi High Court holding that statutory prohibitions on child marriage (PCMA) and sexual offences (POCSO) override personal laws (The Hindu, India Today).
The Supreme Court is examining petitions challenging gender disparities in inheritance under the Shariat Application Act, 1937, while observing that enacting a UCC falls within Parliament's legislative domain (The Hindu, New Indian Express).

Short version

✅ TRUE 👉 The comparisons of personal laws governing polygamy, marriage age, and inheritance in India, alongside Article 44's Uniform Civil Code directive, are accurate. 👉 Indian statutes require monogamy for non-Muslims and set differing marriage ages and inheritance shares, while Article 44 directs the State to secure a UCC. 📰 Sources: ail, NDTV 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat