The Madhya Pradesh government has constituted a six-member high-level committee to examine issues related to the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. The committee is tasked with studying various personal and family laws, including those governing marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption, and live-in relationships, and will submit a report within 60 days.
Background and Objective
According to a government order issued on Monday, matters related to personal and family laws are currently administered under separate provisions. The government stated that there is a need to review these subjects and develop a practical legal framework to ensure clarity among citizens. With this objective, the committee was constituted to examine the UCC issue in Madhya Pradesh.
Committee Composition and Tasks
The committee will be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Its responsibilities include studying the various personal and family laws prevailing in the state, examining the UCC models adopted by Uttarakhand and Gujarat, and holding public hearings and consultation meetings to ensure broad participation. The committee will also consider provisions for the protection and security of women and children within the proposed framework.
Additionally, the committee will provide suggestions regarding the regulation of live-in relationships, including registration and the rights and obligations arising from them. It will examine legal aspects of the proposed legislation to avoid future complications. The committee is expected to submit a draft bill and a detailed report to the state government within 60 days.
Political Context
This development marks the third UCC-related move in the state in a fortnight. The newly constituted 13-member Madhya Pradesh BJP core committee, in its first meeting on April 14, reviewed the groundwork for the proposed UCC. Earlier, on April 13, the state cabinet gave its approval to constitute a committee for preparing the UCC draft, following which the panel was formed.
The UCC issue gained national attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for its enactment while addressing BJP workers in Bhopal on June 27, 2023. The government's move indicates a possible attempt to introduce the UCC bill during the monsoon session of the state assembly, though no official confirmation has been made.
