The West Bengal government has constituted a high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine and review a draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill prepared for the state. The committee was formed following a state cabinet decision and has been tasked with conducting a detailed assessment of the proposed legislation before any further action is taken. The government said the move was necessary due to the wide-ranging implications and extensive nature of the draft Bill.
According to a government notification issued on Friday, the proposed legislation aims to create a common legal framework for personal civil matters applicable to residents of West Bengal irrespective of religion, faith or community. The draft Bill covers issues including marriage, divorce, intestate succession and testamentary succession. Officials said the committee will study the provisions in detail and provide recommendations to the state government before a final decision is made.
Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (retd.) will serve as the chairperson of the committee, which includes members from legal, administrative, academic and public service backgrounds. The panel comprises former Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy, Resident Commissioner Dushyant Nariala, retired IAS officer Shatrughna Singh, Principal Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department Sanghamitra Ghosh, academic Dr Ratna Bhattacharya, former Gour Banga University vice-chancellor Gopalchandra Misra, advocate Osman Gani Mallick and former executive director Nirmalya Bhattacharyya.
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A senior state government official said the committee was established to ensure a comprehensive review of the draft legislation considering its legal and social significance. Another official said the panel would examine the document thoroughly and submit its observations to the government before the Bill moves forward. The notification also referred to Article 44 of the Constitution, which directs the State to work towards securing a Uniform Civil Code for citizens.
The proposed UCC initiative places West Bengal among states that have taken steps towards implementing uniform personal laws. Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Assam have already adopted UCC-related frameworks, making West Bengal the potential fourth state to introduce such legislation. The draft Bill reportedly follows similar models by seeking standardisation of laws related to marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption. The issue has also been a significant political subject, with the UCC being among the key promises highlighted during the 2026 state assembly election campaign.
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