The West Bengal government has formed a 9-member expert committee to draft the UCC. This committee, headed by retired Justice Ranjana Desai, will submit its report before the August Assembly session. The government plans to introduce the bill in this session.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [भारत]July 11 (ANI): The West Bengal government has constituted a nine-member expert committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine and finalize the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The state government plans to introduce this legislation during the upcoming August assembly session. According to the state government, indigenous communities will be exempted from the proposed law.
Who is included in the committee?
The committee comprises legal experts, former judges, bureaucrats and representatives from the social sector, who will examine various aspects of the draft law before submitting its recommendations. The panel includes three former judges of the Supreme Court or High Court, a constitutional expert, a former bureaucrat and two members from the social sector. The committee is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and includes former Bombay High Court judge RC Chavan, former high court judge SG Mehre, former Maharashtra chief secretary DK Jain, former Maharashtra advocate general Birendra Saraf, social activist Padmashree Ramesh Patange and educationist Suvarna Rawal as core members.
What did the CM say?
Speaking in West Bengal’s Baruipur, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, “A committee has been formed under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai. It will start its work and submit its report soon. UCC (Uniform Civil Code) has been implemented in the state. This is one nation, so there will be one law. There cannot be two types of laws. It is very clear.”
Earlier in June, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had announced in the Assembly that the draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be introduced during the August session of the state Assembly. The Chief Minister said that the state government has started the process of framing a Uniform Civil Code and is committed to taking the legislation forward after completing the necessary procedural steps. According to the Chief Minister, the committee comprises experts from various fields, including legal luminaries and academicians, who will examine various aspects of the proposed law before submitting their recommendations.
UCC in other states of the country also
This step has been taken at a time when the discussion on UCC has intensified across the country. Uttarakhand has become the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code after independence, and Maharashtra is expected to closely study its experience while preparing its draft. Meanwhile, in May, Assam passed its UCC Bill, which aims to establish a single civil legal framework to govern marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships regardless of religion. (ANI)
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