The Madhya Pradesh government has taken a significant step towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). A high-level committee submitted its final report to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, marking progress towards the proposed legislation’s legal scrutiny before introduction in the state Assembly. Yadav expressed gratitude to the committee for timely completion of the three-volume report.
The report has been sent to the state Law Department for legal examination. Following necessary revisions and scrutiny by a committee of senior secretaries, the draft Bill will be presented to the state Cabinet. The government aims to introduce it during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.
The report, compiled in three volumes, includes recommendations based on international practices and existing laws. It also contains a draft Bill with 404 sections and seven schedules, along with details of the public consultation process. The committee received over 9.58 lakh responses through various platforms, analyzing them based on questions, gender, and community before finalizing recommendations.
One key recommendation is to exclude Scheduled Tribes from the proposed Uniform Civil Code. The committee focused on laws concerning marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption, and live-in relationships, aiming to tailor the draft to Madhya Pradesh’s social, cultural, and economic conditions.
Led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, the committee emphasized gender equality while respecting customs and traditions. The development is significant as the Uniform Civil Code remains a debated constitutional issue in India. Madhya Pradesh’s move follows Uttarakhand’s enactment of a state-specific Uniform Civil Code, making it the first state to do so in independent India.
