UCC report submitted to CM, bill likely to be tabled in assembly soon | Ahmedabad News

Gandhinagar: A panel constituted by the Gujarat govt to assess the need for uniform civil code (UCC) and draft a bill for the same submitted its final report to chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday. The Gujarat govt is likely to table the UCC bill in the ongoing session of the assembly, top sources said.Committee chairperson retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai met Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar and submitted the report, also making a presentation on the panel’s recommendations. “The committee in its report has recommended a common legal framework for all religions and communities on issues, namely marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption. Equal rights of women and their protection have been given priority in the report,” an official statement by the govt stated.“The legislative affairs department has been asked to finalise the UCC implementation bill, which will be tabled in the ongoing session of the assembly,” top sources in the govt informed. Providing details of the proposed bill, sources said it will apply for those who are domiciled in the state for 10 years or more. “Members of scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs) will get exemptions in selected categories. The proposed bill will provide for a common legal framework for all religions and communities in matters of marriage, divorce and succession rights,” sources said. They added that all majority and minority institutions will be governed by a single framework.In Feb 2025, the Gujarat govt constituted the committee under Justice Ranjana Desai to explore various aspects related to the implementation of the UCC in the state and prepare a draft bill for the same. Members of the panel include retired senior IAS officer C L Meena, advocate R C Kodekar, former vice-chancellor of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Dakshesh Thakar, and social worker Gita Shroff.The committee was initially granted a 45-day period to submit its report, but was subsequently granted extensions, as the committee held wide-ranging consultations with different sections of society, seeking their suggestions and recommendations.Members of the panel visited all districts of Gujarat and held consultations with representatives of social and religious organisations. Objections, suggestions and recommendations were also sought on a website created for the purpose. The govt said over 19 lakh suggestions were received since the panel was constituted.