Madhya Pradesh Panel Submits UCC Report As Yadav Seeks Congress Response

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has asked the Congress party to clarify its position on the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) after a state-appointed high-level committee submitted its final report on the issue. Speaking to reporters at the Assembly premises, Yadav criticized the opposition party’s approach to matters such as the UCC and the Bhojshala dispute, alleging that Congress views them through the lens of religious and electoral politics.

Yadav said the committee’s report reflected extensive public participation, with people from different communities sharing their views during the consultation process. He stated that citizens from various religious backgrounds had openly expressed their opinions on the proposed law, but alleged that Congress had not yet made its stand clear. The Chief Minister urged the party to explain whether it supports or opposes the introduction of a Uniform Civil Code in the state.

The Madhya Pradesh government had constituted the high-level committee to examine the possibility of implementing a UCC and suggest a legal framework. The panel was headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and included Prof Gopal Sharma, Budhpal Singh, Shobha Paithankar, and Member Secretary Ajay Katesaria. The committee submitted its final report to the Chief Minister after studying constitutional provisions, existing laws, customs, and practices.

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The report has been prepared in three volumes, according to the state government. The first volume contains the committee’s recommendations based on its legal and constitutional examination, while the second volume includes a draft Uniform Civil Code Bill for Madhya Pradesh. The proposed draft legislation reportedly consists of four parts, 404 sections, and seven schedules outlining various aspects of the proposed framework.

The third volume of the report focuses on the public consultation process conducted by the committee through district-level meetings, state-level discussions, and an online platform. The government said more than 9.58 lakh suggestions were received and analysed based on issues, gender, and community perspectives. One of the key recommendations of the panel is to exclude Scheduled Tribes from the proposed UCC, citing constitutional protections and the importance of preserving their distinct customary practices.

The submission of the report marks a major step in the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government’s efforts to consider introducing a Uniform Civil Code in the state. The government will now examine the recommendations and draft legislation before deciding on further action, including the possibility of presenting a Bill in the Assembly. The UCC is mentioned under Article 44 of the Constitution as a Directive Principle, calling upon the State to work towards securing a common civil code for citizens while respecting constitutional safeguards.

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