Chhattisgarh Moves Toward Uniform Civil Code Plan, Panel to Draft Framework

The Chhattisgarh Government has taken a key step toward implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by forming a high-level committee tasked with preparing a comprehensive draft framework. The panel, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, will now begin consultations with citizens, legal experts, and stakeholders before submitting its final report to the State Assembly for consideration. The move signals the state’s intent to examine a uniform legal structure governing personal laws.

According to officials, the committee will study existing systems and gather public feedback to design a simplified legal framework that could replace religion-based personal laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance, and family matters. The Government has stated that the draft will be prepared after following due legal procedures, ensuring that multiple perspectives are included before any legislative action is taken. The process is expected to be extensive, given the social and legal sensitivity of the subject.

A government statement highlighted that the proposed UCC could help reduce legal ambiguities and promote social balance in a diverse state like Chhattisgarh, which comprises tribal, rural, and urban populations. Officials also noted that the initiative carries wider national significance, as the Uniform Civil Code has long been part of constitutional debate in India under Article 44, which encourages the state to work towards a common civil framework.

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The committee will also focus on understanding how a uniform code could impact gender equality, property rights, and legal consistency across communities. Supporters of the initiative argue that a single legal structure could improve clarity in family law matters and ensure equal treatment across different religious groups while maintaining social harmony in a culturally diverse population.

The development comes amid renewed discussions on UCC implementation in several states, following similar policy moves elsewhere in the country. Once the committee completes its consultations and prepares the draft, it will be presented before the Chhattisgarh Assembly for further debate and potential approval, marking a crucial step in determining whether the state moves closer to adopting a uniform civil law framework.

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