Gujarat government forms 5-member committee to draft Uniform Civil Code
What's the story
The Gujarat government has formed a five-member committee to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The panel, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai, is likely to submit its report in 45 days. The state government will then take a decision based on the recommendations of the committee. Other panel members include retired IAS official CL Meena, advocate RC Kodekar, educationist Daxesh Thakar, and social worker Gita Shroff.
Committee's goal
UCC aims to ensure equal rights: Gujarat CM
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has said the UCC is meant to ensure equal rights for all citizens. He said, "The Constitution is our sacred text. The BJP delivers on its promises - whether it is Article 370, One Nation One Election, Triple Talaq, women's reservation or now working toward the Uniform Civil Code." The UCC seeks to unify personal laws across religions in marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships.
Committee composition
Who are the members of the UCC committee
Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi assured all aspects would be considered in preparing the report. This comes after Uttarakhand became the first state to implement a UCC, including mandatory registration for marriages and live-in relationships. Now, marriages can only take place when the man is at least 21 and the woman at least 18. It also offers equal divorce rights for both men and wives across all religions, and grants equal inheritance rights to sons and daughters.
National push
PM Modi advocates for nationwide UCC implementation
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier backed a pan-India implementation of the UCC. In his Independence Day speech last year, he had said that "the Supreme Court has also said many times that UCC should be brought into the country." The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat had also examined the feasibility of a civil code in 2022.