The Chhattisgarh government has constituted a five-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to prepare a draft framework for implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. The decision, announced by the BJP-led government on Thursday, marks a significant step towards fulfilling one of its key policy commitments. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the panel has been tasked with studying the existing legal framework and recommending measures for the introduction and implementation of the UCC in Chhattisgarh.

The Chief Minister's Office shared the notification on social media platform X, stating that the committee would formulate a comprehensive roadmap for implementing the Uniform Civil Code. According to the notification, Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai will chair the panel. She is also heading a similar committee constituted by the BJP government in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh to examine the feasibility and framework for introducing a Uniform Civil Code in that state.

Apart from Justice Desai, the committee comprises retired IAS officers Shatrughan Singh and M.K. Raut, senior advocate Mohan Pawar and former principal Jyoti Rani Singh. The panel has been entrusted with examining the state's existing legal provisions relating to personal laws and identifying areas where a uniform legal framework can be introduced. It is expected to consult relevant stakeholders and study constitutional, legal and administrative aspects before submitting its recommendations to the state government.

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According to the notification, the committee will specifically examine matters relating to marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption and other personal law issues governed by different religious and customary practices. Based on its findings, the panel will prepare a draft framework outlining the legal and administrative steps required for implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Chhattisgarh. The recommendations are expected to serve as the basis for any future legislation on the subject.

The Uniform Civil Code, envisaged under Article 44 of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution, seeks to establish a common set of civil laws governing personal matters irrespective of religion. While the Directive Principles are not legally enforceable, they guide governments in framing policies. The proposal has long been part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's political agenda and has generated extensive legal, political and social debate over its potential impact on religious personal laws and constitutional rights.

With the formation of the committee, Chhattisgarh joins a growing list of BJP-ruled states examining the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code. The panel's recommendations are expected to shape the state's future approach to personal law reforms while balancing constitutional provisions, legal precedents and the interests of various communities. The government has not announced a timeline for the submission of the committee's report.

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