Thiruvananthapuram: The issue of a uniform civil code is currently not on the agenda of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Centre had not taken any decision on it, Union Minister of State for Law, P C Thomas, said on August 2.

"The ruling NDA functions on the basis of a common agenda and the Uniform Civil Code is now not on the agenda. A national debate is on about the issue following the Supreme Court observation. The government, however, has not taken any decision," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function organized to mark the merger of the Kerala Vikas Party (KVP) with the Indian Federal Democratic Party (IFDP), to which he belonged.

Thomas also said that the ruling alliance had not discussed the question of framing a legislation to facilitate construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Referring to judicial reforms, Thomas said the government was thinking of bringing in a provision in the Criminal Procedure Code, which would enable the accused to avail some concession in punishment, if they pleaded guilty.

He said financial constraints were coming in the way of creating the proposed Indian Judicial Service.

A large number of KVP workers, led by former state minister K Sankaranarayana Pillai joined IFDP at the function.

PTI